Part 6 – Reptilian Herbivores of Pamaltela

ANKYLOSAUR

(Ankylosaurus magniventris)

Club 15W+4, Bony Plates +6, Forage 5W, Large 15W, Scent Predator 5W, Strong 8W2, Stubborn 2W

Distribution: Tarien

Habitat: Hills, forest or swamp

These lumbering herbivorous dinosaurs are encased in great bony plates beneath their skin, with sharp spines protecting their flanks, and a tail ending in a heavy club. When threatened, the animal simply drops low to the ground, and swings about with its tail, manoeuvring to keep its opponent behind it and in range of the club. Ankylosaurs are not especially bright, and will rarely retreat from a foe. They are dark brown in colour, with a regular pattern of ivory-coloured bony ridges projecting through the skin on the back; the distinctive appearance is not much of a disadvantage for a creature so well protected against predators. Ankylosaurs are solitary creatures, and do not guard their eggs or raise their young.

Image: Ankylosaur

Nodosaur

(Nodosaurus textilis)

Avoid Damage 10W, Bony Plates +6, Forage 5W, Large 10W, Scent Predator 5W, Strong 18W, Stubborn 2W

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Open terrain, swamp

Smaller than the ankylosaur, the nodosaur lacks the body spines and club, although it is still well armoured. Too slow to run from most predators, its response to a threat is simply to tuck its legs beneath it and hope nothing gets through its shell. Nodosaurs are found only in the swamps of Porlaso and the lowland forests of northern Slon. They are reddish brown, with a great number of small bony nodules arranged in bands along the back and flanks above the armoured plates.

Image: Nodosaur

BONEHEAD

(Pachycephalosaurus osicaput)

Butt 10W+3, Scaly Hide +3, Kick 2W, Acute Smell 5W, Charge 5W, Large 15W, Spot Predator 8W, Strong 18W

Distribution: Tarien

Habitat: Open terrain

Two-legged, herbivorous dinosaurs, boneheads are named for their tremendously thick, domed, skulls. They live in small herds of a dozen or so adults, and are rather more intelligent than they at first appear. The females lay their eggs in nests which they protect until the young hatch and join the herd. They are greenish in colour with black mottled patches and a pale grey forehead. Male boneheads challenge each other for access to breeding females by charging at each other and whacking their heads together until one submits. Against predators or other threats, they can use a similar tactic, although opponents of human size or smaller are difficult to hit in this manner, and will likely simply be kicked instead.

Image: Bonehead

Highland Bonehead

(Stegoceras validum)

Butt 5W+2, Scaly Hide +3, Kick 2W, Acute Smell 5W, Charge 5W, Climb 18, Large 15, Spot Predator 8W, Strong 5W

Distribution: Tarien

Habitat: Hills

Small dinosaurs, about eight feet in height, these animals live in the high hills of Tarien. Apart from their size, and their rich brown colour, they are very similar to their larger relatives. Their smaller size makes it much easier for them to butt man-sized targets, although they are more likely to flee a concerted attack.

Image: Highland Bonehead

DIPLODOCUS

(Diplodocus longus)

Tail Lash 15W, Very Thick Hide +4, Forage 8W, Large 12W2, Spot Intruder 2W, Strong 15W2

Distribution: Slon

Habitat: Open terrain, Woodland, Swamp

The diplodocus is a charcoal-grey, ninety-foot long, relative of the brontosaur, with a relatively slender build. Their long neck enables them to browse from high trees, although they will also eat low-lying vegetation, and will even wallow into swamps to browse on water plants. Like many dinosaurs of similar size, diplodocuses tend to ignore anything as small as humans unless they are obviously in danger. Allosaurs are among their few natural predators, which they fight off by lashing out with their whip-like tails. Even then, the allosaurs prefer to attack younger or weaker animals, rather than tackling fully grown and healthy individuals.

Image: Diplodocus

HADRUK

(Anatotitan longirostrum)

Bite 5W+1, Scaly Hide +4, Acute Hearing 18, Forage 8W, Large 5W2, Scent Predator 5W, Strong 8W2, Run Fast 5W

Distribution: Umathela, Tarien, Draconic Areas

Habitat: Forest, Hills, Swamp

These herbivorous dinosaurs are brown in colour, with black, leopard-like spots along the back and flanks. They walk on all fours, but can briefly rear up on their hind legs to move quickly or to reach the tops of small trees. The most distinctive feature of these thirty five-foot long dinosaurs, however, is their great, duck-like bill. Hadruks feed on trees and other vegetation, are generally not aggressive unless threatened. They are amongst the commonest sights in Tarien, where herds of several dozen individuals travel across the countryside.

The hadruk is only one of many similar dinosaur types found in Pamaltela and in areas frequented by dragonewts. Many have decorative crests to attract mates, or camouflaging patterns on their bodies. Similar statistics can be used for most of these creatures, although some forms are smaller (down to Large 15W), or slightly larger (up to Large 10W2).

Image: Hadruk

Hroombaw

(Parasaurolophus bucina)

Bite 5W+1, Scaly Hide +4, Acute Hearing 2W, Forage 8W, Large 5W2, Scent Predator 8W, Strong 10W2, Run Fast 5W, Trumpeting Call 10W

Distribution: Umathela, Tarien

Habitat: Forest, Hills, Swamp

Named for the low, trumpeting sounds they make, this especially distinctive relative of the hadruk lacks the duckbill, but has a six foot long crest stretching from the back of its head. Hroombaws call when alarmed by the presence of large carnivores, and use a different timbre of call during the mating season. They are mostly tan coloured, with a black stripe down the centre of the back, while the crest itself is a dull red.

Image: Hroombaw

IGUANODON

(Iguanodon tariensis)

Bite & Kick 12W+2, Scaly Hide +2, Forage 8W, Large 18W, Run Fast 5W, Strong 8W2

Distribution: Tarien, Slon

Habitat: Open terrain, forest

These much larger relatives of the bolo lizard are common in Tarien and Slon. Unlike the bolo lizards, they spend most of their time on all fours, although they can rear up or even walk on their hind legs if they need to. Iguanodons are about thirty feet long, and tower over humans even when standing on all fours, but otherwise look quite similar to bolo lizards, except for the heavy spikes on their thumbs and their mottled greenish-grey skin. They travel in herds, typically with about twenty individuals, and browse on trees and shrubs.

Image: Iguanodon

STENOG

(Stegosaurus stenops)

Bash 15W+4, Scaly Hide +5, Large 5W2, Spot Intruder 15, Strong 10W2, Stupid 15

Distribution: Slon, Draconic Areas

Habitat: Forest, hills, swamp

Large, herbivorous dinosaurs, stenogs are four-legged creatures with a double row of large, scale-like plates projecting from their back, and four sharp spikes on the tips of their tails. Their skin is a plain grey in colour, much like an elephant’s, but remarkably tough and leathery. Stenogs are stupid and bad-tempered animals, even by the standards of dinosaurs, and it does not necessarily take much to alarm them. When threatened or angered, stenogs hunker down and lash out with the spiked tail with surprising accuracy. They will rarely flee from attack, even if obviously outclassed. They are solitary, even the young having to fend for themselves as soon as they hatch from the egg. They eat low-lying bushes and shrubs.

Image: Stenog

TRICERATOPS

(Triceratops horridus)

Butt 12W+4, Scaly Hide & Bony Frill +5, Charge 10W, Forage 5W, Large 2W2, Strong 10W2

Distribution: Tarien, Draconic Areas

Habitat: Open terrain, hills

These are amongst the commonest of all the dinosaurs, travelling in large herds across the lowlands of Slon and western Pamaltela. Bulky, somewhat rhino-like reptiles, they have large bony frills on their heads, a sharp beak and three long horns. They are about the same size as an elephant and have a dark green, almost black, colouration. Herds of triceratops number several dozen, although they are too stupid to fight cooperatively. They can, however, stampede when panicked by a large carnivore such as a tyrannosaur, likely crushing anything in their path. Triceratops eat a wide range of plants, their parrot-like beaks enabling them to crop even tough woody shrubs.

The horns are mainly used for fights between males competing for mates, fencing in a manner similar to the way deer do with their antlers. However, the animals can charge at a threat, stabbing with their horns.

Image: Triceratops

Styracosaur

(Styracosaurus ovatus)

Butt 10W+3, Scaly Hide & Bony Frill +5, Charge 10W, Forage 5W, Intimidate Animals 5W, Large 15W, Strong 5W2

Distribution: Tarien

Habitat: Open terrain hills

These creatures are similar to triceratops, although significantly smaller. They have a large horn on their nose, and two very small horns above the eyes. An array of spikes surrounds the frill, some of them several feet in length. These allow them to slash at any opponent who tackles them from the side. The frill is also brightly coloured, with red markings, making the creature very distinctive. When threatened, a styracosaur will bellow and shake its frill, hoping that its fearsome appearance will frighten off the intruder.

Image: Styracosaur

Pachyrhino

(Pachyrhinosaurus tariensis)

Butt 12W+2, Scaly Hide & Bony Frill +5, Charge 10W, Forage 5W, Large 15W, Strong 5W2

Distribution: Tarien, Draconic areas

Habitat: Open terrain, hills

These are another smaller relative of the triceratops. They lack any horns, instead having a solid, bony lump on the nose, which they use to headbutt opponents. Pachyrhinos are yellowish-tan in colour and live in smaller herds than triceratops.

Image: Pachyrhino