Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Savage Menagerie: Harvestman

No. Enc.: 1d8 (1d12)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 7
Hit Dice: 8
Attacks: 2 (barbed tongue, bite)
Damage: 1d8/1d6
Save: L4
Morale: 9
Hoard Class: VI

A Harvestman is a twisted, deformed humanoid with exceedingly long arms and legs. The Harvestman's head and joints bend in impossible directions, and the creature scuttles around on all fours, giving it a spider-like appearance. Although the Harvestman is not an arachnid nor related to the species in any way, it has been nicknamed "Daddy Long-legs" due to its spider-like appearance.

A Harvestman has grey-black skin covered in very fine hair. These hairs give the Harvestman the unique sense to detect any movement within 30 feet. Every something as subtle as a hidden foe breathing can be "felt" by a Harvestman. A Harvestman can never be surprised due to this. The Harvestman's skin coloring easily shifts and blends in with its surroundings, making the creature nearly impossible to see if it's standing still. However, these beneficial skin mutations come with a price, as its flesh is very sensitive to injury. If struck by a hand-held weapon, the Harvestman will take an extra die of damage from the blow.

A Harvestman attacks with its long (10' long) barbed tongue, which lashes out to cut and maim a victim. Ona successful strike, the thorn-like barbs on its tongue cuts a victim for 1d8 hit points of damage. If the maximum damage of 8 is rolled, the barb has penetrated the victim's flesh and they will be drawn back toward the Harvestman who will then bite the victim for 1d6 points per combat round until the victim is freed. The Harvestman will also bite those victims who are not ensnared but who get within attack range. A Harvestman's fibrous tongue will take 20 hit points of damage before it is severed.

Even though a Harvestman is not a member of the arachnid family, the creature acts like one as the species has no true identity of its own. It ties together scraps of vines, ropes, and cables into web-like structures that criss-cross through its lair. It will use these "webs" to travel quickly through the area as well as tie up and cocoon its victims until it is ready to feed. Anyone who stumbles into a Harvestman's lair may initially think it's the lair of a giant spider. Soon, they'll discover it's much worse.

Mutations: unique sense, chameleon epidermis, epidermal susceptibility, natural weapon (barbed tongue)

4 comments:

  1. I'm totally going to freak out my players with these.

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  2. Neato, I had similar critters as Spyders in my last MF campaign. Make them large enough to ride and things get strange.

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  3. I swiped the picture (and some text) to use as a Skewman variant in my own game:

    http://mutantur.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/skewmen/

    ReplyDelete