Animal Archives- Prehistoric Animals III.pdf

P REHISTORIC A NIMALS III

C REATED AND ILLUSTRATED BY

J ESSE M OHN

W RITTEN BY

A ERYN “B LACKDIRGE ” R UDEL

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons Revised Edition

Core Books, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Credits

Animal Archives

Prehistoric Animals III

Animal Archives

Prehistoric Animals III

The Campaign Construc-

tion System is a format

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organize their campaign

binder. Each entry in this

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Created by

Jesse Mohn

Written by

Aeryn Rudel

Editing

John Ball

Illustrations

Jesse Mohn

Graphic Design & Layout

Edward Bourelle & Erik Nowak

SkeletonKey Staff

Edward Bourelle & Art Braune

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and the Blackdirge Publishing logo are trademarks of Aeryn Rudel.

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backgrounds). To be clear, the Animal Archives property is CLOSED.

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Blackdirge Publishing

Credits

Arthropleura

Animal Archives

Prehistoric Animals III

(J OINTED S IDES )

(A RE - THROW - PLUR - AH )

CR 3

Always Neutral Large Vermin

Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +0, Spot +4

Languages —

AC 18, touch 10, ﬂatfooted 17

(-1 size, +1 Dex, +8 natural)

hp 39 (6 HD)

Immune vermin immunities

Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +2

Speed 40 ft.

(8 squares)

Melee bite +7

(2d6+6)

Space 10 ft.;

Reach 5 ft.

Base Atk +4; Grapple +12

Attack Options poison cloud

Abilities Str 19, Dex 13, Con 15, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2

SQ vermin traits

Feats —

Skills Hide +1, Spot +4

An arthropleura is a massive, multi-legged arthropod that

resembles millipedes and centipedes. These huge insect-

like creatures roam the undergrowth of large, tropical

forests and swamps, devouring decaying plant matter

and carrion. They are large enough to discourage most

predators, and have a rather benign temperament.

Environment warm forests

Organization solitary

Treasure none

Advancement 7-12 HD (Large); 13-18 HD (Huge)

A typical arthropleura is about 8 feet long and weighs

800 pounds.

Poison Cloud (Ex): Once per day, as a standard

action, an arthropleura can release a cloud of

poisonous gas from microscopic pores along

the sides of its body. This gas ﬁlls a 20-foot

cube centered on the arthropleura and forces

all creatures in the area of effect (besides other

arthropleura) to make a DC 15 Fortitude saving

throw or take 1d4 points of initial and secondary

Constitution damage. The cloud lasts for 1 round.

The Fortitude save is Constitution-based.

COMBAT

An arthropleura is typically not aggressive, although it

can deliver a powerful bite when riled. When agitated, an

arthropleura can emit a cloud of poisonous gas that can

be deadly to other creatures.

FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS

An arthropleura presents few uses for player characters;

it cannot be trained, and its ﬂesh is repulsive (although

not poisonous) to the taste. However, a number of

enterprising goblin tribes have mastered a technique of

driving the massive arthropods toward enemies with a

system of goads, using the beasts as mobile chemical

weapon dispensers.

Skills: Arthropleura have a +4 racial bonus on Spot

checks and a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks.

The foliage ahead rustles softly; small trees and

undergrowth swaying and shifting as something large

moves among them. An acrid stench suddenly assails

your nostrils, and the jungle disgorges a monstrous,

armor-plated millipede. It scuttles toward you, antennae

waving madly, huge mandibles clacking together with

the force of a steel vice.

A celestial or ﬁendish arthropleura can be summoned with

summon monster IV or a higher level summon monster

spell. Treat a celestial or ﬁendish arthropleura as being on

the 4th-level list of the Summon Monster table.

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Illustrator: Jesse Mohn

Monster

A RTHROPLEURA

Arthropleura

Animal Archives

Prehistoric Animals III

ARTHROPLEURA IN THE REAL WORLD

adamantine saves as if it had a magic enhance-

ment bonus one point higher than it actually does.

Arthropleura vies with the huge sea scorpions

Jaekelopterus and Pterygotus for largest arthropod of all

time. It lived in the oxygen-rich Carboniferous Period

(340-280 million years ago), which saw insects and

other arthropods reach colossal sizes never seen before

or since. Like all the giant arthropods, Arthropleura did

not survive into the Permian Period. As the climate dried

out, the giant forests of the Carboniferous disappeared,

reducing the oxygen levels in the atmosphere, which

made it possible for giants like Arthropleura to exist.

The descendents of Arthropleura live on in the form of

modern day centipedes and millipedes.

Corrosive Body (Ex): Any metallic object that

deals damage to a bladebiter is instantly

corroded and destroyed. Magical items may

make a DC 24 Reﬂex save to avoid being

completely ruined. Gold, mithral, and platinum

are immune, and adamantine saves as if it had

a magic enhancement bonus one point higher

than it actually does.

Eat Metal (Ex): A bladebiter eats corroded metals,

requiring the same amount of such metal as a

creature its size would normally require in food.

B LADEBITER

CR 9

Poison Cloud (Ex): Once per day, as a standard

action, a bladebiter can releases a cloud of

poisonous gas from microscopic pores along

the sides of its body. This gas ﬁlls a 20-foot

cube centered and forces all creatures in the

area of effect (besides other arthropleura) to

make a DC 24 Fortitude saving throw or take

1d6 points of initial and secondary Constitution

damage. The cloud lasts for 1 round.

Advanced Metallivore Arthropleura

Neutral Huge Magical Beast (Augmented Vermin)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., smell metal

90 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +7

Languages —

Smell Metal (Ex): A bladebiter can smell the presence

of any metal object within 90 feet. This distance

doubles if downwind from a metallic object.

AC 20, touch 9, ﬂatfooted 19

(-2 size, +1 Dex, +11 natural)

hp 171 (18 HD)

Fort +16, Ref +7, Will +6

This massive centipede-like creature is covered in dull

gray, armored plates that look and feel like iron or steel.

It moves about on dozens of jointed legs, each ending in

a sharp, chitinous claw, and bears a tremendous set of

mandibles just below its large bulbous eyes.

Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)

Melee bite +21 (4d6+13)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Base Atk +13; Grapple +30

Attack Options Improved Sunder, Power Attack,

poison cloud

Special Action breath weapon 6/day

Bladebiters are massive centipede-like arthropods that

inhabit deep jungles and swamps. Oddly enough, their

diet consists solely of ferrous metals, such as iron, which

are broken down and corroded by the beast’s saliva for

digestion. Obviously, this dietary requirement often

brings bladebiters into conﬂict with those who regularly

carry large amounts of metal on their persons, such as

adventurers. Bladebiters can literally smell metal, and

will eagerly pursue and attack those who carry it.

Abilities Str 28, Dex 12, Con 20, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 6

SQ eat metal

Feats Alertness, Improved Initiative, Improved

Natural Attack (bite), Improved Sunder, Power

Attack, Track, Weapon Focus (bite)

Skills Hide +7, Listen +2, Search +5, Spot +7

Breath Weapon (Su): 35-foot cone, six times per

day, corrodes metal, Reﬂex DC 24; see below. Any

metallic object (besides gold, mithral, platinum,

and adamantine) exposed to the breath weapon

corrodes and becomes useless immediately.

The size of the object in question does not alter

the speed of this effect. Unattended, nonmagical

metal items receive no save. Held or carried

objects, as well as magic items, get a Reﬂex save

to negate the effect. Metals that do not readily

corrode (gold, mithral, platinum) are immune, and

A bladebiter is 20 feet long and weighs 4,000 pounds.

COMBAT

Although not overly aggressive, a bladebiter often

attacks creatures carrying metal items when hungry. It

open combat with its breath weapon, especially against

creatures carrying large amounts of ferrous metals, such

as those wearing heavy armor. It then rushes forward

to consume the resulting slag, generally ignoring other

foes. When pressed, a bladebiter releases a poison cloud,

and then attacks with its bite.

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Blackdirge Publishing

Monster

Doedicurus

Animal Archives

Prehistoric Animals III

D OEDICURUS (P ESTLE T AIL ) CR 4

(D EE - DIK - YOO - RUSS )

An adult doedicurus has few natural enemies, as it is

simply too large and well protected for even large predators

to tackle. However, sentient humanoid races have been

known to hunt these beasts for their bony carapace, which

can be fashioned into surprisingly effective armor.

Always Neutral Large Animal

Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Listen +11, Spot +5

Languages —

A doedicurus is 5 feet high, 12 feet long, and can weigh

up to 2 tons.

AC 21, touch 9, ﬂatfooted 21

(-1 size, +12 natural)

hp 59 (7 HD)

Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +3

COMBAT

A doedicurus is not normally aggressive, although males

during the breeding season can become temperamental

and dangerous to approach. When provoked, a doedicurus

lashes out with its spiked tail club, and can deliver

terrible, bone crushing blows with this natural weapon.

The tail club of a doedicurus is considered a two-handed

weapon for purposes of the Power Attack feat.

Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)

Melee tail club +11 (2d6+10 plus knock down/x3)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Base Atk +5; Grapple +16

Attack Options Power Attack, augmented critical,

knock down

Abilities Str 25, Dex 10, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6

Feats Alertness, Endurance, Power Attack

Skills Listen +11, Spot +5

Typically, a doedicurus will strike once with its club,

hoping to stun or knock over an attacker, and then

ﬂee. Only males during the rutting season are likely to

continue to attack a downed foe, and often commit up to

5 points of their base attack bonus to the Power Attack

feat, especially when battling other males for mates.

Environment temperate and warm woodlands

and grasslands

Organization solitary or herd (2-12)

Treasure none

Advancement 8-14 HD (Large); 15-21 HD (Huge)

FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS

Despite its slow movement rate, a doedicurus makes and

excellent and tireless mount. In addition, when trained

for combat, a doedicurus can be a powerful ally to

its rider, adding its fearsome tail club to any melee to

devastating effect. A doedicurus can carry 798 pounds as

a light load. Rearing a doedicurus from infancy requires

a DC 22 Handle Animal check.

Augmented Critical (Ex): The tail club of a

doedicurus inﬂicts triple damage on a

successful critical hit.

Knock Down (Ex): Any creature struck by the

tail club of a doedicurus must make a DC 20

Reﬂex save or be knocked prone. The save

DC is Strength-based.

In addition to its capabilities as a mount, the armored

carapace of a doedicurus can be fashioned into armor

equivalent to scale mail. A single doedicurus produces

enough bony plates for a single masterwork suit of

scalemail for a creature one size category smaller than

itself. Scale mail constructed from a doedicurus carapace

weighs 25% less than metal armor.

This animal resembles a massive, armored armadillo,

with a huge, domed carapace made of tiny overlapping

bony plates. Its head is covered in a thick bony cap,

while its tail is surrounded by ring of hardened bone and

tipped with a vicious spiked club.

A doedicurus is a large armored mammal found in warm

and temperate woodlands. It is normally a peaceful

grazer, but will use the huge, spiked club on its tail to

drive away or even kill predators. These animals gather

in herds of up to a dozen individuals for mutual defense

and to protect the young.

A doedicurus can be summoned with summon nature’s

ally V or a higher level summon nature’s ally spell. Treat

a doedicurus as being on the 5th-level list of the Summon

Nature’s Ally table. A celestial or ﬁendish doedicurus

can be summoned with summon monster VI or a higher

Author: Aeryn Rudel

Blackdirge Publishing

Monster

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