[Thundarr Thursday] Savage Menagerie: Grizzly Snake

No. Enc.: 1d4 (1d6)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 90' (30')
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 7
Attacks: 2 (bite, constrict)
Damage: 1d6, 2d10
Save: L3
Morale: 9
Hoard Class: VI

The Grizzly Snake is a 20-foot-long snake-like creature that lives in desert and arid areas. The Grizzly Snake isn't a true reptile, however. It is a mutated legless bear that has evolved a lengthened snake-like body covered in a matted brown fur with a large bear's head at one end.

The Grizzly Snake is as aggressive as any angered bear. They do not live in caves though, preferring to use its hyperburrowing mutation to hollow out a large underground pit in which it lives. A Grizzly Snake has evolved a very acute vibration sense that gives it the ability to feel vibrations in the earth from up to 200 yards away. The Grizzly Snake can use this sense like a radar, "feeling" the approximate position of a nearby victim through vibrations from them walking or riding above. The Grizzly Snake will then burrow to a position under the victim, exploding out from under them and surprising them, gaining initiative in the attack.

A Grizzly Snake attacks by wrapping around and strangling a victim. If successful, it will crush a victim for 2d10 hit points of damage. The constriction continues on subsequent rounds. They can also bite for 1d6 hit points of damage, although the bite is not poisonous.

Mutations: hyperburrowing, vibration sense

NOTE: This creature is inspired the episode “Challenge of the Wizards” from the classic Ruby Spears post-apocalyptic cartoon “Thundarr the Barbarian.” Stay tuned each week for “Thundarr Thursday”!