Difference between revisions of "Bonesnapper"

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| species = therapid (ossis frangereturus)
 
| species = therapid (ossis frangereturus)
 
| noapp = 2–5
 
| noapp = 2–5
| behaviour = social
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| behaviour = [[Social Behaviour|social]]
| range = savannah
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| range = [[Savanna (range)|savanna]], [[Subterranean (range)|subterranean]]
 
| size = 23 ft. long
 
| size = 23 ft. long
 
| weight = 1,200 lbs.
 
| weight = 1,200 lbs.
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| hpdie = d4+d6
 
| hpdie = d4+d6
 
| attack = '''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]]
 
| attack = '''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]]
| dmg = 3–24
+
| dmg = 3–24 (fangs)
 
| special = none
 
| special = none
 
}}
 
}}
  
A lightly built bipedal [[Identify Amphibians & Reptiles (sage ability)|reptile]] with a long tail and massive head, with strong hind limbs for balance and [[Claw (attack)|claws]] not used for fighting. The creature is rarely found not in the company of another of its kind, most likely a female and offspring.
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'''Bonesnappers''' are lightly-built bipedal [[Identify Amphibians & Reptiles (sage ability)|reptiles]], with a long tail and massive head.  Their hind limbs are strong and likely used for balance; the forelimbs arn't used for fighting. These creatures are rarely found alone; they tend to be in the company of another of their kind, often a female and offspring.
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[[File:Bonesnapper b.jpg|left|315px|thumb]]
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__TOC__
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Offspring stay with the parents into adulthood, until encountering another family group.  This happens during the dry season, as the creatures begin to congregate at reliable waterholes.  Groups mingle and the female approaches males according to their skin colouration and a "dance" that's part of the mating ritual.  Pairs move off independently to form new groups.  Lone males — who steadily grow increasingly aggressive for several months until becoming dangerously rabid; during this period, the early wet season, bonesnappers may launch vicious attacks until they are killed or are discovered stumbling delusionally in circular patterns.
  
[[File:Bonesnapper b.jpg|left|350px|thumb]]
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== Hunting ==
The offspring will remain with the parents into adulthood, until encountering another family group when water becomes scarce after the commencement of the dry season. Both groups will intermingle for this period as water remains short, before splitting off (with new relationships formed) once the dry season has ended.
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Bonesnappers are voracious eaters. Leading up to the dry season, they hunt larger animals in packs — especially lone elephants or rhinoceroses.  They've been known to bypass smaller, less meaty prey like humanoids, whom they prefer to hunt when there are children to be fed.  Bonesnappers loll during the daylight hours when it's hot and prefer to hunt three or four hours in the evening, until the light has diminished.  They sleep together in a close pile.  They may hunt briefly in the morning.
  
The beasts are voracious eaters and will swarm large prey (above a thousand pounds) when encountered. They have been known to ignore smaller, less meaty prey, such as a party on foot, particularly in the dry season, preferring to save their energy for heavier prey that is bound to approach the water hole around which they hunt. They will loll during the daylight hours and prefer to hunt for three to four hours in the evening, when the air is still warm and light is diminishing. They will lay in a close pile during the night and hunt briefly in the morning.
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== Guardians ==
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The creature's habit of bypassing humans, and especially children, as prey — while in fact saving a villager by striking at a stalking lion, has encouraged a belief that the bonesnappers are in fact tribal "guardians," though it remains a fact that these creatures cannot be approached lightly. Nonetheless, many African witnesses have seen like things.
  
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Further, because of changes in the bonesnapper's behaviour as the wet season approaches, there are rituals designed to make the creatures "go mad" in the hopes that this will bring rain.
  
See Also,<br>
 
[[Amphibians & Reptiles (sage study)]]<br>
 
[[Bestiary]]
 
  
[[Category: Amphibians & Reptiles]][[Category:Animal Intelligence]]
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See [[Bestiary]]
 +
 
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[[Category: Amphibians & Reptiles]][[Category:Reviewed]]

Latest revision as of 01:43, 18 October 2023

Bonesnapper
Species therapid (ossis frangereturus)
No. Appearing 2–5
Behaviour social
Range savanna, subterranean
Size 23 ft. long
Weight 1,200 lbs.
Intelligence 1
Armour Class 5
Hit Dice 8
Action Points 4
Max. Stride 10
THAC0 16
Hp/Die d4+d6
Attack Forms 1: fangs
Damage 3–24 (fangs)
Special Attacks none

Bonesnappers are lightly-built bipedal reptiles, with a long tail and massive head. Their hind limbs are strong and likely used for balance; the forelimbs arn't used for fighting. These creatures are rarely found alone; they tend to be in the company of another of their kind, often a female and offspring.

Bonesnapper b.jpg

Offspring stay with the parents into adulthood, until encountering another family group. This happens during the dry season, as the creatures begin to congregate at reliable waterholes. Groups mingle and the female approaches males according to their skin colouration and a "dance" that's part of the mating ritual. Pairs move off independently to form new groups. Lone males — who steadily grow increasingly aggressive for several months until becoming dangerously rabid; during this period, the early wet season, bonesnappers may launch vicious attacks until they are killed or are discovered stumbling delusionally in circular patterns.

Hunting

Bonesnappers are voracious eaters. Leading up to the dry season, they hunt larger animals in packs — especially lone elephants or rhinoceroses. They've been known to bypass smaller, less meaty prey like humanoids, whom they prefer to hunt when there are children to be fed. Bonesnappers loll during the daylight hours when it's hot and prefer to hunt three or four hours in the evening, until the light has diminished. They sleep together in a close pile. They may hunt briefly in the morning.

Guardians

The creature's habit of bypassing humans, and especially children, as prey — while in fact saving a villager by striking at a stalking lion, has encouraged a belief that the bonesnappers are in fact tribal "guardians," though it remains a fact that these creatures cannot be approached lightly. Nonetheless, many African witnesses have seen like things.

Further, because of changes in the bonesnapper's behaviour as the wet season approaches, there are rituals designed to make the creatures "go mad" in the hopes that this will bring rain.


See Bestiary