Whippersnapper

No. Enc.: 1d4 (1d4)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 30′ (10′)
Armor Class: 4 [14]
Hit Dice: 1d4+2
Attacks: 1 per HD (whips) / 1 (bite)
Damage: 1d4 subdual (whips) / 2d8
Save: F3-6
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: V (x2)

Whippersnappers appear to be smaller cousins of the roper, standing about 6′ tall and easily mistaken for stalagmites in the shadows of the underworld. Each whippersnapper has 1d4+2 20′ tentacles which can whip targets for 1d4 subdual damage. If a target is knocked unconscious, the whippersnapper will attempt to drag it toward its maw at 10′ per round.

Whippersnappers suffer only 50% damage from cold-based attacks, and are immune to electrical-based attacks. However, fire is disagreeable to them and they suffer -4 to save versus fire-based attacks.

“What’s that, Strider? It don’t look like a cloud,” said Sam in a whisper to Aragorn. He made no answer, he was gazing intently at the sky; but before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching. Flocks of birds, flying at great speed, were wheeling and circling, and traversing all the land as if they were searching for something; and they were steadily drawing nearer…

From THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Birds

No. Enc.: 0 (1)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 10 (3)
     Fly: 150 (50)
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: N/A
Attacks: 1 per target within area of effect (beaks and claws)
Damage: 1d6
Save: F8 (for the flock)
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: None
XP: N/A

This represents a huge flock of aggressive birds intent on attacking. Every target within the flock’s area of effect (see below) is subject to one attack per round.

The relentless, amorphous nature of the birds can overwhelm those who fall victim to it. Targets within the flock must make ineffective attacks against the birds, allowing only combat movement rate, unless they make a successful save vs. paralyzation. A roll of ’1′ on this save means the character panics and stops in place and must successfully save to get moving again. A character’s saving throw adjustment for wisdom applies to these rolls.

Area of effect for each size of flock:
Small: 100 + 1d100 (101-200) birds in a flock roughly 50′ across
Medium: 250 + 2d100 (252-450) birds in a flock roughly 100′ across
Large: 500 + 5d100 (505-1000) birds in a flock roughly 300′ across
Huge: 750 + 1d100x10 birds (760-1750) in a flock roughly 500′ across
Gargantuan: 2500 + 1d20x100 (2600-4500) or more birds in a flock roughly 1000′ across or more
Hitchcockian: 5000 + 5d100x100 (5500-55000) birds in a flock a mile across or more

Attacks against the flock will kill some individual birds but have no measurable effect on the flock. Area effect (fireball, cone of cold, breath weapon, etc.) attacks are an exception. The flock is constantly moving with a group mentality, which will make effective combat against it very difficult.

(White Box) The Birds: HD: N/A; AC 5 [14]; Atk Claws and Beaks (1d6); Move 1 (Fly 15); Save 9; XP N/A

You do not want to run into The Birds.

I just pulled the numbers for flock size out of the air. If anyone has suggestions for improvement, chime in.

UPDATE: Get your own flock: Muster The Birds.

“It’s more of those horned devil dogs!” Locklar called. “What should we do?”

“Run!” he shouted, turning toward the trees a half-mile in the distance.

Pronghorn Jackal

No. Enc.: 1d6 (2d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 150′ (50′)
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 1+1
Attacks: 1 bite or charge
Damage: 1d4 or 1d6+1
Save: F1
Morale: 6
Hoard Class: Nil

These are larger cousins of regular jackals with pronghorns. They are far more aggressive than standard jackals but can quickly scatter if an encounter begins to go badly for them.

They can initially charge and ram with their horns. When biting, a natural ‘to-hit’ roll of 20 indicates that the horns have also gouged the target, causing an extra 1d4 in damage.

Just a low HD encounter with a little something to spice it up a bit.

Now that Knockspell #3 has been out for a while, I’ll post two of my contributions to that fine publication. Originally posted here and here, the giant scorpadillos quickly became a staple in my campaign. As they’ve got a sort of “quasi-official” status due to being published in Knockspell, I’ll update their stats here on the site to match the magazine.

Giant Scorpadillo

No. Enc.: 1d4 (1d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120′ (40′)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
— Underbelly: 7 [12]
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: 2 (bite, sting)
Damage: 1d4/1+poison
Save: F4 [11]
Morale: 9
Hoard Class: VII

These creatures seem to be the twisted creation of a demented sorcerer from ages past. Combining the armored body of a huge armadillo with the poisonous sting of a giant scorpion’s tail, these beasts are equally at home in labyrinths or in the wilderness. They are naturally aggressive and do not hesitate to attack.

Anyone stung by the tail of a giant scorpadillo must save vs. poison or immediately go into convulsions and die in 1d6 turns.

The underside of the giant scorpadillo is armor class 7, but the creature is low to the ground and such attacks are difficult at best. If means to strike at the vulnerable underbelly are found, the giant scorpadillo will curl up into a ball to avoid them. This maneuver leaves the tail free to continue attacking anyone within five feet.

Greater Scorpadillo

No. Enc.: 1d4 (1d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120′ (40′)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
— Underbelly: 7 [12]
Hit Dice: 4
Attacks: 4 (2 claws, bite, sting)
Damage: 1d6/1d6/1d4/1d3+poison
Save: F7 [10]
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: XX

These larger, tougher cousins of the standard giant scorpadillo add two giant scorpion pincers. Any time that a claw successfully strikes, the sting attack receives bonus of +2 to hit the same target.

See the original posts for the mini-stories on these terrifying creatures.

Sammar clung to the barrel, struggling to climb atop of it in the swirling water. He wasn’t having much luck. The hulk of the galley loomed above him at a crazy angle, illuminated for a half moment by a flash of lightning. Its after-image seemed burned into his eye in the darkness, but when the next brilliant blast came, the ship was gone.

Before he could reflect upon his own inability to last long on the open sea in a raging storm, the deck hand was suddenly vanished below the surface. Horrified, Sammar was certain that it wasn’t merely a case of the man succumbing to the sea, but that he had been pulled below. And though he couldn’t even begin to imagine how it was possible, it had looked as if the man had been illuminated (from within?) by a lightning of his own…

Shocktopus

No. Enc.: 0 (1)
Alignment: Chaotic (Evil)
Movement: Swim: 90 (30)
Armor Class: 6 [13]
Hit Dice: 8
Attacks: 8 (tentacles)
Damage: 1 (per tentacle) plus shock
Save: F8
Morale: 8
Hoard Class: None

These solitary creatures are territorial and very aggressive. The size of standard giant octopi, their eight 10-foot arms are, in fact, electric eels. Each bite inflicts one point of damage plus an additional 1d6+1 if a saving throw vs. breath weapon is failed.

The eel arms cannot inflict constriction damage like a standard octopus, but the shocktopus is able to emit a 40′ cloud of ink and flee at three times standard speed if it is losing an encounter.

(White Box) Shocktopus: HD: 8; AC 6 [13]; Atk 8 tentacles (1 + shock); Move 9; Save 10;

“What was that?” asked Korrigan. The tightness of his voice betrayed his nervousness.

Standing ahead of them in their path were a half-dozen man-shaped creatures. But their faces were those of great cats, and the menace was plain in their dark eyes. Tails twitched behind them, and their claw-like hands held weapons of steel…

Cat Warrior

No. Enc.: 1d6 (2d6)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 150 (50)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Hit Dice: 2+2
Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite or 1 weapon
Damage: 1d4/1d4/1d6 or by weapon
Save: F3
Morale: 10
Hoard Class: VII

These humanoid jaguars favor wooded or jungle settings. In their native environment they gain a +1 bonus to surprise and can track creatures on 1-4 on 1d6.

Due to their otherworldy nature, cat warriors gain a +2 bonus to saving throws vs. spells and magic and are completely immune to visual illusions.

Legend has it that these creatures must be killed nine times before they are permanently slain, but this may be nothing more than an old wives’ tale.

(White Box) Cat Warrior, Jaguar: HD: 2+2; AC 4 [15]; Atk 1 bite (1d6) or 1 weapon; Move 15; Save 13;

I imagine that there are various forms of Cat Warrior (tiger, lion, panther, etc.) with identical base numbers but modified special abilities.

I also suspect that classed Cat Warrior characters are possible for exceptional cases.

“That demon lizard ate Garthus. And the torch-bearer. At the same time…”

Lizard, Giant Two-Headed

No. Enc.: 1d4 (1d4)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120 (40)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Hit Dice: 5+2
Attacks: 2 bites, 1 tail whip
Damage: 1d8/1d8/1d6
Save: F4
Morale: 9
Hoard Class: VII
XP: 460

These giant lizards can attack a different target with each head simultaneously, plus another target in the rear flank with a slash from a spiked tail. On a bite ‘to-hit’ roll of ’20′, they can swallow targets man-sized or smaller.

Giant two-headed lizards generally favor warm, humid climes, but have reportedly been encountered in subterranean labyrinths, as well.

(White Box) Lizard, Giant Two-Headed: HD: 5+2; AC 4 [15]; Atk 2 bites (1d6); Move 9; Save 13; XP 400

I decided the the first Monday Monster I started writing up needed more work before publishing, so the alternate is one day late:

Jorgen downed the last of his ale and looked around for the round-bottomed serving wench to call for another. She gave him a smile and a wink, pretending to be shocked when he pinched her as she leaned over the table. “Pete’s has the cheapest ale in town!” he laughed, tossing another copper onto her ale-soaked serving tray.

“Bring me my ale, sweetie,” Jorgen called. “I need one more drink before I go out to avenge my brother…”

Spirit Servant

No. Enc.: 1 (1)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120 (40)
Armor Class: 0 [19]
Hit Dice: 4
Attacks: 1 touch
Damage: 1d6
Save: F9
Morale: 12
Hoard Class: None
XP: 210

Spirit servants are summoned by necromantic magic to fulfill one specific task, often the delivery of an object or message to a particular individual. Though capable of defending themselves, assignments are generally not violent. Once given their mission, spirit servants wander the lands of the living until they have succeeded.

Spirit servants can only be struck by silver or magical weapons. Their chilling touch does 1d6 damage and requires a save vs. magic. Those that fail flee in fear for 1d6 minutes. Spirit servants will only fight in self-defense and try to avoid combat if at all possible. Spirit servants can be turned by clerics, but they cannot be destroyed or commanded. Once the turning effects wear off, they will resume their task.

Spirit servants are incapable of speech unless their mission is the delivery of a spoken message. In this case they act as a sort of recording device and will speak the words in the voice of the sender.

(White Box) Spirit Servant: HD: 4; AC 0 [19]; Atk 1 touch (1d6); Move 12; Save 10; XP 240

I’ve never really been big on necromancy-type magic, but I thought this was a nice alternative to some of the existing options in the “magical servant” department. (And the intro story sort of ran out of control. I’m not sure who Jorgen and Julian are, or exactly what their story is, but now I’m a bit curious…)