[Mutated Monday] Savage Menagerie: Bro'ding

Welcome to the fourth Mutated Monday this month. The landscape is being overrun by bigger and stronger creatures as we approach Monstrous Monday on October 29. Today's mutant is a towering mountain of a creature. And it's completely indifferent to the rest of the world...

No. Enc.: 1
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 300' (100')
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 20
Attacks: 1 (claw or trample)
Damage: 5d6 or 8d8
Save: L9
Morale: 11
Hoard Class: None

When the ground begins to tremor with a thud-Thud-THUD that increases in volume and intensity, it is almost certain that a Bro'ding approaches. Standing more than 130' tall, the giant Bro'ding is one of the largest land-dwelling creatures that exists in the Mutant Future. It is uncertain if it is a mutated human grown to gargantuan proportions; a deviant from another dimension; an alien invader; or some force of nature given form.

The Bro'ding is a thin, almost skeletal biped. This insectoid-looking creature stands on two spindly clawed legs. Anything in the way of its path will take 8d8 hit points in damage from its crushing weight. Its arms end in two large pincers which it uses to both pick up and manipulate objects as well as crushing and rending anything is thinks is food. These claws do 5d6 hit points of crushing damage to anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in one. Although it is covered in a pasty gray rubber-like skin, the Bro'ding's chest has an exposed ribcage where its internal organs can be seen beneath. The head of a Bro'ding is elongated with multifaceted insect eyes. Its mouth has two tendrils which it uses instead of teeth to rend and tear its food before consuming it.

A Bro'ding never speaks, nor makes a sound of any kind. It is uncertain if it has any kind of intelligence beyond basic animal instincts. Some have tried to communicate with it, only to be swatted away (and killed) when it became an nuisance. The Bro'ding wanders the landscape, eating when it's hungry, sleeping when tired, and "playing" with other creatures when bored -- much like a cat "plays" with a mouse. It seems completely unaware of the effect its size has on other living creatures, but it doesn't seem to notice or care. The Bro'ding treats other living creatures the way you or I may treat an insect -- with complete indifference to its condition, thoughts, feelings, and/or suffering.

The Bro'ding gets its name from a literary-minded human who remembered a tale of a shipwrecked man terrorized by giants.When a Bro'ding is seen approaching, it's best to move out of its way until it passes, then rebuild the town -- and hope it doesn't take an interest in you or your village.

Mutations: gigantism