Savage Menagerie: Dodo-leech

No. Enc.: 1 (1d4)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 60' (20'); Fly 90’ (30’)
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 4
Attacks: 2 (drain blood, claw)
Damage: 1d6 per round, 1d6
Save: L2
Morale: 5
Hoard Class: None

Sometimes creatures once thought extinct make a return in the world of Mutant Future. The dodo-leech is an example of one such creature. The dodo-leech is a large stout bird weighing about 50 pounds and covered with gray-white feathers. Although the dodo-leech’s ancestors were flightless, the dodo-leech has the mutation of complete wing development, making it capable of flight (although it is still fairly slow in the air when compared with other large birds).

Unlike its fruit-eating ancestor, the dodo-leech must feed on the blood of living creatures. It has developed a short trunk-like appendage where its beak would be. This trunk’s opening is lined with hundreds of razor-sharp needle teeth that it uses to latch onto and drain its prey. If a PC is hit in combat, the dodo-leech will attach itself to the victim, draining 1d6 hit points of blood. Once attached, the dodo-leech will only release its grip if it is killed or its prey has died.

Since the dodo-leech isn’t a speedy bird, it has evolved the ability to create a mental phantasm to confuse its enemies and trap its prey. It will use this ability to draw a weaker victim away from a party, hoping to attack the prey on a one-on-one basis.

Mutations: aberrant form (xenomorphism), complete wing development, mental phantasm

NOTE: See this previous TSAW post for the inspiration behind this critter.