Stag Beetle (giant)
| Species | insect (lucanus gargantua) |
| No. Appearing | 2–5 |
| Behaviour | solitary |
| Range | savannah, woodland |
| Size | 14 ft. long |
| Weight | 2,600 lbs. |
| Intelligence | 0 |
| Armour Class | 3 |
| Hit Dice | 7 |
| Action Points | 4 |
| Max. Stride | {{{stride}}} |
| THAC0 | 17 |
| Hp/Die | 3d4 |
| Attack Forms | 2: two horns |
| Damage | horn (2–13) |
| Special Attacks | none |
Giant stag beetles are enormous herbivorous scavengers, preferring to consume rotted wood and compost. It is not unusual for a stag beetle to tear down an old tree and begin consuming the mass, roots and all. They are rarely aggressive unless provoked, but when disturbed, they can become dangerous. They have been known to feast on dumps and vegetable stores in towns, causing significant property damage and posing a threat to those who attempt to drive them off.
The creature attacks with its horns, swinging its head from side to side in wide, powerful arcs. It will usually overbear its opponents, knocking them aside with sheer mass and momentum before continuing its path to avoid further confrontation. They rarely stand their ground in a prolonged fight, preferring to flee rather than engage in extended combat.
These giant beetles do not typically associate with others of their kind, preferring a solitary existence as they scavenge for decaying plant matter. When they do encounter another of their species, they engage in violent territorial disputes, ramming one another with their massive horns in a manner similar to deer. These clashes are powerful enough to shake the ground, and the impact of two stag beetles colliding has been known to echo across entire valleys. Their horns can grow as long as seven feet, though three to four feet is more common. The beetles can open and close their horns slowly, and they often spread them wide in a menacing display before launching an attack.
See Bestiary
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