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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Faolyn" data-source="post: 9386802" data-attributes="member: 6915329">Another radioactive monster for you—and this one was listed as a beast even though it can fire a radioactive heat ray. I guess the idea is that these are normal, if alien, animals that somehow obtained heat ray powers through evolution, which is why it’s not a magical beast. Still, if the extremely normal griffon can be a magical beast, then so can a heat-ray monster.The razortail, as it’s called, isn’t that tough a creature. I can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but I’ve always kind of wish D&D really embraced the fantasy part and filled the world with clearly unnatural creatures instead of relying on real-world animals like wolves and horses. I have vague recollections of cartoons I saw as a kid being like that, and certainly science fantasy shows and movies were filled with strange beasts (see: Star Wars). Or think of the Numenera game, where most of the creatures are completely alien and if you use a term like “horse” or “dog,” you’re actually referring to something completely different but that fills a similar roll.This is all a very roundabout way of saying that you could probably use razortails instead of, I dunno, bears or wolves or tigers or other low-level animal threats. Throw out the natural animals and bring in the weird! Just do what Eberron did for people with the Mark of Handling: when they use spells that affect beasts, they can also affect monstrosities with a Intelligence of 3 or lower.[ATTACH=full]369563[/ATTACH]RazortailInvaders of the Barrier Peaks, Dragon Magazine #280Creature by James Jacobs; art by Ron SpencerNative to swamps and bogs, razortails are wolf-sized creatures. They vaguely resemble pale yellow, spindly-legged newts, but their toothy jaws open vertically instead. Their four tails are long and end in many wickedly-sharp barbs, from which they get their name. Constantly hungry, razortails are always hunting.Although they are amphibians, razortails are not cold-blooded—indeed, their skin is quite hot (but not dangerously so) to the touch, and it pulses with a reddish light in tune with their heartbeat.Heat Ray. Although their sharp teeth and barbed tails are formidable weapons, the razortail is best known for its ability to fire a ray of burning light with incredible accuracy. The nature of this light is often debated by naturalists and sages, since it leaves behind disturbing sores and sickness.Live Fast, Die Young. One it eats enough, a razortail reproduces asexually, producing a litter of up to a dozen. The pups reach hunting age in a little over a week—just in time for the adult to give birth to their next litter. They take little care of their young, and most die before reaching maturity, however. Those that do reach adulthood can expect to die of old age in six months. Only a few live longer, and those that do have a growth spurt and invariably are seen as leaders of the pack.Climate/Terrain: temperate, subtropical; swampLegends and LoreWith an Arcana check, the characters can learn the following:DC 10. Razortails are vicious, swamp-dwelling predators. Always hungry, they can eat their own body weight in food every day.DC 15. Razortails spit a beam of intensely hot light which burns anything it touches.DC 20. Although they lack eyes, razortails have a very keen sense of smell and are attracted to the smell of blood.Monster EncountersChallenge Rating 0 razortailChallenge Rating 1-2 2-4 razortailsChallenge Rating 3-4 6-8 razortails; 1-4 razortails and razortail pack leader.Treasure: fishing or hunting trap, silver flask (50 gp)Signs1. A dead razortail.2. Pulsating red lights in the underbrush.3. Strange scorch marks on nearby trees; with a DC 15 Arcana check, these marks were made by intense light, not fire4. Bubbles in the water; something is lurking under the surface.Behavior1-2. Hungry; will attack on sight.3. Basking in sunlight; will attack if approached.4. Eating a dead ogre; will attack if approached.RazortailMedium monstrosity; Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)AC 12HP 22 (4d8+4; bloodied 11)Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.STR 12 (+1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 12 (+1)INT 2 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 5 (-3)Proficiency +2; Maneuver DC 12Skills Perception +3Damage Resistances fire, radiantSenses blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 13Languages —Amphibious. The razortail breathes air and water.Blood Frenzy. The razortail has advantage on melee attack rolls against creatures that don’t have all their hit points.Glow. A razortail sheds dim light to a distance of 5 feet.Keen Smell. The razortail has advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell.ActionsMultiattack. The razortail makes two tail attacks.Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) piercing damageTail. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) slashing damageHeat Beam (Recharge 5-6). The razortail targets a creature within 60 feet. That creature must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the target takes 10 (3d6) fire damage and is poisoned until the end of its next turn. This attack doesn’t work in darkness.CombatRazortails are straight-forward combatants and will only flee if brought to 6 or fewer hit points.Variant: Razortail Pack LeaderA pack leader is a rare razortail that has lived for at least six months and has grown to the size of a large horse.The pack leader is an elite monster, equivalent to two CR 1/2 creatures (200 XP). It is Large, has 44 (8d8+8; bloodied 22) hit points, and the following trait:Elite Recovery. At the end of each of its turns while bloodied, the pack leader can end one condition or effect on itself. It can do this even while unconscious or incapacitated.The pack leader has the additional action, which it can only use while bloodied:Heat Cone (1/day). The razortail emits burning light in a 30-foot cone. Each creature within that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) fire damage on a failed save or half as much on a success. A creature that fails its save is also poisoned for 1 minute. A poisoned creature may make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. This attack doesn’t work in darkness.</blockquote>

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