The Water Shrew

Shrew, Water
Frequency:  Uncommon
NO. ENCOUNTERED:  5 - 40
SIZE:  Small
HD:  1 (d4)
MOVE:  9ft
AC:  12
ATTACK:  Bite (1d3) or by weapon type
SPECIAL:  None
SAVES:  Physical
INT:  Average
ALIGNMENT:  Neutral to Good/Evil (5%)
TYPE:  Animal
TREASURE:  1
XP:  5 + 1/hp

As adventurer:  -1 to strength/+1 to dexterity

These feisty little critters are easily identifiable by the long pointy noise, outlandish clothing, and willingness to fight! They are about the same size as a mouse and gray in color; but, unlike mice, they are only found near the water – rivers, streams, and lakes. They are excellent swimmers and divers, pursuing their favorite foods – water insects, small fish (i.e. minnows), and tadpoles. The males like to wear headbands, vests, and baggy pants (all kinds of different colors that don’t match!), and the females prefer to wear dresses. Besides being excellent swimmers, they are also very adept at handling rafts, canoes, and boats. They don’t settle in one spot, but prefer to move up and down the water system, constantly on the move looking for food. They are very suspicious of strangers and it will take some time to gain their trust. They are deathly afraid of snakes and owls.

If there are more than five water shrews in a group, one will be designated their chieftain or leader and will have 2HD. If twenty or more are present, the chieftain will have 3HD, with a lieutenant of 2HD. If forty or more, he will have 4HD and two lieutenants with 2HD. They prefer to use small rapiers, bows/arrows, and daggers.

Wheat Hollow: Black Tim's Prize

Just a quick little update note to let you know that I'm just about finished with the initial draft of my latest adventure, Black Tim's Prize. Still have to go through it all and make sure I don't miss anything. Once that's all done, it will be off to the Trolls. I'm not sure at this point if they will be released as seperate adventures or combined to make a larger setting-type book. With those two adventures and the Critters & Creatures book, there's definitely lots to work with.

More as it develops!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Next: Water Shrew.

Grizzly!!

Bear, Brown
Frequency:  Rare
NO. ENCOUNTERED:  1-2
SIZE:  Huge
HD:  10-12 HD (d12)
MOVE:  12ft
AC:  13
ATTACK: 3 (2 claws 1d8, bite 1d8) or by weapon type
SPECIAL:  Hug attack (2d8/rd. save vs. strength to break free)
SAVES: Physical
INT:  Average
ALIGNMENT:  Neutral (with evil tendencies)
TYPE:  Animal
TREASURE:  8
XP:  900 + 10/hp to 1375 + 12/hp

Brown bears, also known as the Grizzly, are larger, stockier, and stronger than his cousin, the black bear. It is also more aggressive. Its head is wider and thicker than the black bear or polar bear. It has large broad shoulders – a hulking big critter to say the least. Unlike its cousin the black bear, there is less color variation, most are brown in color. It will typically ignore using any type of armor, preferring its heavy thick fur for protection. Like his other cousins, it will either use its claws/bite or a large two-handed club/sword (3d6 + 4 (strength) in combat. If it hits with both paws in the same round, it will do an additional 2d8 points of damage per round (save versus strength to break free) until the critter is killed or subdued. They can also use their big paws and claws to dig critters out of their holes/homes in the ground.

Brown bears tend to be a bit on the nomadic side, preferring to roam the countryside for its food and to keep an eye on “his” territory. It eats small and large mammals, fish, berries and fruits. If the bear does settle down anywhere, it will build a small fort or castle, claiming the territory around it for miles as its domain. It will make all the animals in the area subjects under his control. The meaner creatures will typically be put in positions of importance (i.e. wolverines, bobcats, etc.). Lesser creatures (in his eyes) will be forced into slavery and serving his/her every need.

The statistics given above are for the adults only - for the young, start with one HD per year of age until they hit adulthood (10-12 HD).