Savage Menagerie: Crowrachnid

((NOTE: You ever have a nightmare that startles you awake? In a recent real-life nightmare, I was attacked by these things. When I woke up, I knew I had some excellent Nightmare Fuel for your Mutant Future games. No illustration as I still have a screaming case of the heebie-jeebies.))

No. Enc.: 2d4 (2d8)
Alignment: Neutral
Movement: 90' (30'); Fly: 180' (60')
Armor Class: 8
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: 1 (bite)
Damage: 1d6, poison
Save: L1
Morale: 7
Hoard Class: None

The Crowrachnid (croh-RACK-nid) is a large winged spider that travels in small flocks. When first seen, the creature may appear to be either a crow, raven, or black hawk. It's only when it gets near and those 8 legs unfurl to grasp its prey that the true nature of the Crowrachnid revealed.

A Crowrachnid is about the size and shape of a large tarantula -- about 8 to 10 inches across. Its body is covered in coarse, black, wiry hairs, and it has no markings of any kind. The Crowrachnid has developed a pair of large wings that are, surprisingly, covered in jet-black feathers. It is unknown how this cross between bird and bug was first achieved. Crowrachnids attack by circling its prey overhead, then swooping in for kill. They will use their 8 legs in an attempt to land on and take hold of its prey. Once it lands, the Crowrachnid will attempt to bite its victim for 1d6 hit points of damage. If a victim is bitten, they should make a save versus poison. If unsuccessful, they will take another 4d6 hit points of damage from the Class 4 toxin in the creatures fangs. (The victim will take half-damage with a successful save roll.)

A flock of Crowrachnids is sometimes referred to as "The Feathered Death" as few wasteland travelers survive an attack by an entire flock. And woe be to the unsuspecting mutant who stumbles into a Crowrachnid nesting ground...

Mutations: complete wing development