[Thundarr Thursday] Savage Menagerie: Chatterer

No. Enc.: 1d4
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 9
Attacks: 3 (bite/claw/claw)
Damage: 1d8/1d10/1d10
Save: L5
Morale: 9
Hoard Class: VII

Getting its name from the clicking and clacking it makes with its claws and mandibles, the Chatterer is a giant mutant beetle with an incredibly heavy exoskeleton. They are normally found in caves and other underground caverns, preferring to leap out of the darkness to surprise a victim.

The Chatterer attacks with its two giant pincer claws, grabbing and crushing a victim for 1d10 hit points of damage. They may also lift a victim to its mouth, biting them for an additional 1d8 hit points. It is very difficult to successfully attack a Chatterer as their natural armor is nearly impenetrable. However, they are very adverse to fire and will take an extra 1d6 hit points of damage whenever they come into contact with it or are attacked with fire.

Chatterers have only an insectoid intelligence and cannot be trained or otherwise tamed. They attack by instinct only. Some wizards have been known to trap a Chatterer, letting it get nice and hungry before releasing it onto a foe to be dispatched. Chatterers have also wandered into villages, attacking and consuming the weak and the small before being driven out by the villagers. A rampaging Chatterer is a dangerous creature to contend with.

Mutations: natural armor, epidermal susceptibility

NOTE: This creature is inspired by the episode "Master of the Stolen Sunsword" from the classic Ruby Spears cartoon "Thundarr the Barbarian." Stay tuned each week for Thundarr Thursday!