Part 5 – Reptilian Carnivores

CONSTRICTOR SNAKES

There are many constrictor snakes found throughout Pamaltela, although the largest are restricted to Erinorru. Most are too small to threaten humans, and prey upon small mammals such as rats and condies, but a few are much larger. Such snakes lie in wait for prey in the branches of trees, being able to detect them simply by the warmth of their blood. They then drop upon their chosen target, wrap their coils about it and squeeze until the victim is suffocated to death. They only need to eat once every few weeks, so long as their prey is large enough.

Boa constrictor

(Boa constrictor)

Constrict 5W, Scaly Hide +1, Climb Tree 2W, Large 18, Sense Warm-Blooded Animal 7W, Slither Fast 18

Habitat: Jungle

Boa constrictors are large snakes, twelve feet or more in length, with a grey or beige colour and black markings along the back. Although much feared, few boas will attack humans, preferring somewhat smaller prey. Unlike most other reptiles, they do not lay eggs, and instead give birth to litters of up to fifty young at a time, which rapidly slither off into the jungle.

Reticulated Python

(Python reticulatus)

Constrict 18W, Scaly Hide +1, Climb Tree 2W, Large 12W, Sense Warm-Blooded Animal 7W, Slither Fast 18

Distribution: Errinoru

Habitat: Jungle

These are grey snakes, marked with yellow-edged black diamonds and white patches along the flanks. They can reach thirty feet or more in length. Unlike boas, pythons lay clutches of eggs, which the mother guards until they hatch.

Anaconda

(Eunectes murinus)

Constrict 5W2, Scaly Hide +1, Ambush 2W, Climb Tree 2W, Large 10W, Slither Fast 18, Swim Fast 15

Distribution: Kothar

Habitat: Swamp

Olive-brown in colour, with black and yellow markings, the anaconda is nearly as long as the reticulated python and significantly heavier. Anacondas are aquatic, and ambush virtually any large creature which ventures nearby.

CROCODILES

Horror Crocodile

(Phobosuchus horniliensis)

Bite 5W2+4, Armoured Hide +3, Ambush 2W, Large 18W, Strong 5W2, Swim Fast 18

Distribution: Tarien

Habitat: Swamp, rivers

These creatures resemble their Genertelan relatives, except for their vast size, for the largest are nearly fifty feet in length. They prey mostly on dinosaurs, although humans are not beneath their attention.

Image:  Pamaltelan Horror Crocodile

Porlaso Crocodile

(Metriorhynchus porlaso)

Bite 8W+3, Armoured Hide +2, Ambush 2W, Large 2W, Strong 5W, Swim Fast 8W

Distribution: Porlaso

Habitat: Swamp, coastal waters

Streamlined, and lacking the armoured plates of other crocodiles, these creatures spend as much time in the Worm Sea as they do in Porlaso itself. Their feet are webbed rather than clawed, and the tail ends in a vertical fin, like that of an ichthyosaur. They never venture onto dry land, and feed solely on aquatic animals.

GORG

(Inostrancevia latifrons)

Bite 10W+3, Thick Hide +2, Large 10W, Scent Prey 8W, Short Temper 18, Stupid 12

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Open terrain, hills

            Gorgs are powerful reptiles, about the size of rhinoceros, with great sabre-like canine teeth which they use to rip and tear the flesh of their prey. They hunt in small packs of up to four individuals, and will attack almost any creature significantly smaller than they are (Large 20 or less). They are not especially intelligent, and frequently display a mindlessly aggressive tenacity, lashing out at foes when they are clearly outclassed. Injuries, in particular, drive them into a berserk fury in which they will seek to destroy whatever caused them pain.

NGUMA LIZARD

(Megalania ipseamplus)

Bite 15W+3, Scaly Hide +3, Fearless 15, Large 12W, Strong 5W2, Track by Scent 2W

Distribution: Fonrit, Tarien, Jolar

Habitat: Open terrain, hills

The Nguma resembles a greyish-green monitor lizard except for its great size; the largest specimens reach thirty five feet in length. Although fortunately rare, they are found much further afield than dinosaurs, which inhabit mainly the western reaches of the continent. Carnivores, they will eat almost any kind of flesh, frequently feeding on large creatures such as dinosaurs, rhinos, and gomphoths. Nguma lizards are highly destructive creatures, which wreck anything in their path as they lumber across the countryside. They show no fear of humans, and will try and eat any that get in their way. Their two weaknesses are their slow wits and the fact that they sometimes sleep for days on end after consuming a large meal. The creatures are only ever encountered on their own, and abandon their eggs after burying them in shallow soil.

Some myths claim that the creatures are chaotic, although there appears to be little evidence beyond their size to support this contention. More commonly, they are said to be creations of Vangono made to fight the Artmali, but that Bolongo interfered with their shaping in the secret hope of improving them. Instead Bolongo’s alterations made the creatures mindless killers who could not distinguish their true targets from their intended allies.

PTERODACTYL, SOOTY

(Pterodactylus grandii)

Bite 15, Dodge Attack 5W, Pounce 8W, Spot Fish 10W

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Coasts

These are amongst the largest of the many kinds of Gloranthan flying reptile. While most of its relatives are only as large as medium-sized birds, the sooty pterodactyl is three feet in length and has an eight foot wingspan. Its name comes from the jet black fur that covers most of its body apart from the wings, although it also has a white underbelly. Pterodactyls have long necks and beaks full of sharp teeth, and only short tails. They are primarily gliders rather than flyers, and soar across the seas in search of fish, which they swoop down and catch in a single, swift motion.

Sooty pterodactyls live on cliffs along the north coast of Slon, although their smaller relatives are found across the region and also in Tarien. Rather like seagulls, pterodactyl colonies can be raucous, with a hundred or more creatures gathered together to nest and raise their young. Small species of pterodactyl (add Small 12) are sometimes raised by the tribesmen of Slon as hunting animals, as Genertelans might raise hawks.

Image: Pterodactyl

Pteranodon

(Pteranodon longiceps)

Bite 2W+1, Dodge Attack 5W, Large 8W, Pounce 8W, Spot Fish 10W, Strong 18

Distribution: Tarien, western Umathela

Habitat: Coasts

The pteranodons of Tarien are similar to pterodactyls, but much larger, with wingspans twenty feet across. They have large crests on their heads, which are brightly coloured in the males, and, unlike the pterodactyls, their beaks are toothless, like those of birds. Their fur is a light brown colour. Despite their large size, they only attack humans while defending their nests, and feed on large fish which they scoop from the seas with their pelican-like bills.

RAPTOR

(Velociraptor scenicus)

Kick 10W+3, Scaly Hide +1, Corner Prey 2W, Jump 15, Run Fast 8W, Spot Prey 2W, Track by Scent 15

Distribution: Tarien, Slon, Draconic areas

Habitat: Forests, open terrain

These vicious little dinosaurs are relatively fast moving, being able to run on their hind legs with their stiff tail held out behind them as a counterbalance. They have a colour pattern similar to the coat of a tiger, and like that animal, they are efficient carnivorous hunters. They travel in packs of six to a dozen members.

Combat Tactics: Raptor packs leap onto their prey, hold on with foreclaws and teeth and then dismebowel them with the enlarged, sickle-shaped claws on the second toes of their hindfeet. Uniquely among non-magical reptiles, they have the intelligence to use efficient pack tactics, the lead animal in a pack being able to augment its fellows to aid its Corner Prey ability. They mostly attack prey significantly larger than themselves, and all the members of the pack jump onto the same victim. Solitary raptors may go for smaller prey, but they are also likely to attack any sizable animal that disturbs them. Against such smaller targets, the raptor attacks by standing on one leg and kicking with the other to slash the victim with its great claw.

Image:  Raptor

Droma

(Dromaeosaurus spp.)

Kick 10W+3, Scaly Hide +1, Corner Prey 2W, Jump 2W, Large 2W, Run Fast 10W, Spot Prey 2W, Strong 10W, Track by Scent 2W

Distribution: Tarien, Slon, Draconic areas

Habitat: Forests, woodland

During the Godtime, one pack of raptors became obsessed with catching birds. They tried to leap up into their nests and to catch the creatures as they flew through the air. Most times they were thwarted, which only increased their obsession and determination. So strongly were their thoughts concentrated on birds, that when they laid eggs, the young were born covered with brightly coloured feathers. These were the first dromas, who soon accepted their kinship with both birds and dinosaurs, and so returned to catching more usual prey, unlike their parents, who eventually starved.

Dromas are a similar shape to raptors, but are covered with magnificent plumage, similar to that of the demi-birds used by dragonewts. They even have long primary feathers on their arms, like those of a bird’s wing, but while these do help them to jump longer distances, they cannot truly fly. Dromas come in many sizes, with the very largest being about the size of a pony. The smaller dromas hunt in packs, like their raptor kin (use the ability ratings for a raptor, but increase Jump to 2W), but the largest travel alone or in small family groups.

SAILBACK

(Dimetrodon grandis)

Bite 10W+2, Thick Hide +2, Burst of Speed 5W,  Large 8W, Scent Prey 8W

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Open terrain

These great reptiles have a lizard-like body around ten feet in length, and prowl the lowlands of Slon, where they consume smaller reptiles and other prey. They most distinguishing feature is the great sail-like fin on their backs, which is a dull red in colour. Sailbacks are slow and sluggish through the night, and only become active after dawn. Each morning they spend an hour basking in the sun, much like other lizards, before crawling about in search of food. They are surprisingly fast moving for their size, which gives them an advantage while hunting.

            Unlike many similar creatures, there is no association between sailbacks and dragonewts. Instead, they are lizards whose first spirit ancestors chose to worship the Sun in return for a greatly increased size, and rulership over smaller reptiles.

SNAKE, VENOMOUS

The Doraddi say that snakes were creations of Sikkanos, left behind to wreak vengeance when he was banished to the south.

Coral Snake

(Aspidelaps lubricus)

Strike 5W, Dodge Attack 18, Small 12, Track by Scent 10W

Venom: Lingering (1-3 hours), Lethal, Potency 5W

Distribution: Jolar, Kothar

Habitat: Savannah, hills

Coral snakes are easily detected and distinguished from other snakes because of their bright red and black stripes. Very similar species live in the jungles of Erinorru. Coral snake bites cause intense pain, vomiting, convulsions and blurring of vision.

Image: Coral Snake

Green Mamba

(Dendroaspis angusticeps)

Strike 5W, Climb Trees 18, Dodge Attack 18, Track by Scent 12W

Venom: Lingering (1-3 hours), Lethal, Potency 10W

Distribution: Umathela, Fonrit

Habitat: Forest, hills

A bright green snake about six feet in length, green mambas are deadly serpents with venom similar to that of coral snakes.

Spitting Cobra

(Hemachatus haemachatus)

Strike 2W, Dodge Attack 18, Intimidate Animal 18, Small 15, Track by Scent 10W

Venom (Bite): Lingering (1-3 hours), Lethal, Potency 5W

Venom (Spat): Debilitating, Blinding/Painful, Potency 10W

Distribution: Jolar

Habitat: Savannah

Native to Jolar, spitting cobras are about three feet in length and of variable colour. In addition to biting, they can spit venom up to eight feet, usually into the faces of their attackers, causing blindness and intense pain.

Image: Spitting Cobra

TYRANNOSAUR

(Tyrannosaurus rex)

Bite 2W2+4, Scaly Hide +4, Acute Hearing 18, Ambush 2W, Scent Carrion 8W, Large 18W, Run Fast 10W, Spot Prey 8W, Strong 18W

Distribution: Tarien, Draconic Areas

Habitat: Forests, hills

The largest and most fearsome of the carnivorous dinosaurs, a tyrannosaur stands twenty feet high, and is twice as long from head to tail. Fairly intelligent for a dinosaur, tyrannosaurs are aggressive hunters, although they will eat carrion when they can find it, being able to chase off any other scavenger from the carcass. They prefer to eat hadrosaurs, triceratops and their relatives, although any sizable creature will do, as few can outrun or outfight the mighty predator.

Eggs and hatchlings are cared for by the mother, until large enough to fend for themselves. Even once they leave the mother, young tyrannosaurs (Large of 12W or less) normally remain together in small packs of two to four individuals. Tyrannosaurs stalk their prey and attack with a sudden lunge, but will resort to a chase if particularly hungry.

Allosaur

(Allosaurus irregularis)

Bite 18W+3, Scaly Hide +4, Acute Hearing 18, Ambush 2W, Intimidating Roar 2W, Scent Carrion 5W, Large 12W, Run Fast 8W, Spot Prey 5W, Strong 18W

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Open terrain

Similar in appearance to a tyrannosaur, but only around thirty feet long, and with stronger forelimbs, megalosaurs inhabit the plains of Slon, preying on hadrosaurs and young brontosaurs which stray from the herd.