ZARG

CLIMATE /TERRAIN: See text
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Pack
ACTIVITY CYCLE: See text
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
No. APPEARING: 1-10 or 11-20
AC: 3 (back) 8 (underbelly)
MOVEMENT: 10"
HIT DICE: 2+2
No. ATTACKS: 2
DAM/AT: 14 (bite) 1-2 (tail slap)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
SIZE: S W long body with 3' tail)
MORALE: Fearless (19)
XP VALUE: 65 (105 lead male)

Zargs are lizard-like creatures about the size and shape of dogs but covered with scales, and are often called "lizard-dogs" as a result. They are brownish-gray in color, with lighter shades on their underbellies. The scales are large and rough on their backs ** and smooth and softer on the underside. Their tails are long and weighty, serving as a second attack mode for these creatures in addition to their bite. Males and females are about the same size.

On the night of a full moon, the entire pack, consisting of 1-10 normal males and an equal number of females (which have 1+1 HD), lead by a "dominant" male (HD 3+3) will attack large game or large groups of creatures in a frenzy, for a total encounter number of 11-20. At other times, when unaffected by the lunar cycle's peak, only the males are encountered in the pack (1-10 encountered). A female's bite does only 1-3 points of damage and a tail slap equal to a normal male's, while a dominant male bites for 2-5 and tail slaps for 1-3.

Zargs live in dens or burrows, in any temperate or semi-tropical clime, which they do not dig for themselves but instead steal from other burrowing creatures. They emerge to hunt in packs at night or on darkened days. They may dwell in pairs or groups, depending on the size of their accommodations. Young are born in the late spring, and mature full in six months. They viscously attack any other living creature for food, and are always hungry.

VLOTTER

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any swamp
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Pack
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal UNT 1)
TREASURE:Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
No. APPEARING: 2-8
AC: 8
MOVEMENT: 9"/12"/15"
HlT DICE: 2
No. ATTACKS: 1
DAM/AT: 1-4 (bite)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison gas
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See text
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
SIZE: S (1.5')
MORALE: Elite (13)
XP VALUE: 165

Vlotters are small rodents that live in swamps, feeding on insects and small animals, and some plants. They are excellent swimmers and can climb. When sitting in a dead tree, they are sometimes mistaken for owls due to their owlish appearance. On closer inspection it is seen that instead of beaks they have two sharp upper fangs and no wings.

What makes these creatures so unusual is that they have the ability to absorb large amounts of swamp gasses and using them, float in air. This enables them to migrate from island to island, or to escape enemies on land. Besides a viscous bite, which they only use in self-defense, they also have the ability to exhale poisonous gasses equal to a stinking cloud spell, the area of effect of which is determined by the number of vlotters exhaling (one vlotter can create a three foot diameter effect). Once their victims are sickened and incapacitated, the vlotter may either attack or float away, exhaling more gas to propel themselves. A large number of vlotters exhaling (12 gr more) create a poison effect equal to a spell of cloudkill.

If a vlotter is surrounded and outnumber, and its gas attack has failed, or if it has been reduced to two hit points or less (such as upon its death), it will explode causing 3-13 (d10+3) points of fire damage.