NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rappy" data-source="post: 5098319" data-attributes="member: 58456">Alrighty then, it's finally time to move on to a new monster. While there's still one more unique demon in the Dark*Matter series, I think it's time to cover something different for a change of pace.[sblock]STR 16DEX 8CON 18INT 1WIL 9PER 1Durability: 18/18/9/9Action Check: 9+/8/4/2Move: sprint 28, run 18, walk 6#Actions: 3Reaction Score: Marginal/1AttacksClaws 18/9/4Bite 19/9/4 + infection (see text)Defenses+4 resistance modifier to melee attacksno resistance modifier vs. ranged attacksArmor (Ordinary) d4 (LI), d4-1 (HI), d4-1 (En)SkillsUnarmed [16]; Stealth [8]-hide [9]; Stamina [18]-endurance [20];  Awareness [9]-intuition [11]; Resolve [9]-physical [14]DescriptionThe outback dragon, Megalania prsica, is the largest lizard humans have ever seen. It measures up to 6 meters long and weighs in at 600 kilograms or more, dwarfing the Komodo dragon, its nearest cousin. The lizard's curved teeth are 2 centimeters long, with a serrated edge to tear meat off its kills.In coloration, the monster is always a grayish-brown. Its eyes are a dull black, often described as cold or dead. Although it is surrounded by an overpowering stench (see below), the giant lizard can avoid casual notice by lying extremely still in tall grass or undergrowth, with its head low to the ground. EncounterGenerally, the first sign of a Megalania prisca is its odor. The stench is so strong that it confers a -1 step bonus to Awareness skill checks to notice the creature. Most local animals have learned to recognize the smell, and they flee the moment they sense it.The giant lizard waits quietly for unaware prey to move close enough, then rushes forth to attack (sprint move). If the prey shows no sign of approaching, the lizard creeps closer until within range, then springs. Although its curved claws are particularly wicked, the beast prefers to tear gaping holes in the victim using its terrible jaws. The attack continues until the target stops moving or the lizard is killed - it is too persistent to admit defeat. Regardless of whether it is still under attack by other creatures, the giant lizard then snatches up the immobilized prey in its maw and runs away to finish the meal unmolested.Even a victim who survives the immediate attack is not out of danger, though, for septic bacteria in the lizard's saliva causes a virulent infection (Good strength and incubation). Unless the wound is treated with Knowledge-first aid or Medical Science-treatment within d4 days, a character who has suffered at least 1 point of primary damage from the lizard's bite begins to succumb to infection. Once the infection sets in, the victim must attempt a Constitution feat check at a +1 step penalty to recover.Habitat/SocietyThe outback dragon, assumed to have died out about nineteen thousand years ago, is alive and well and living in the Australian desert. Originally it preyed on large marsupial diprotodonts (known these days as bunyips), but was forced to alter its diet as the centuries rolled by and its accustomed prey became scarce. Fortunately for the big lizard, other species were becoming more plentiful - including humans.More importantly, the outback dragon owes its continued existence to the kinori, who, intrigued by the possibilities, bred the giant carnivorous lizards to ensure they would survive. But when the kinori eventually abandoned the Australian continent, transporting the huge creatures proved to be a logistical nightmare. In frustration, they set most of the lizards free, trusting that the species was hardy enough to endure until the kinori's return. They were right, though the population of giant lizards has dropped radically in the intervening centuries. Today, the creatures roam the outback, preying on anything unlucky enough to be caught in their path - though their favorite meal is still bunyip.Fortunately for the nocturnal bunyips, the outback dragon hunts only during the day. Like all lizards, Megalania prisca is cold-blooded and so becomes extremely sluggish at night. Generally it spends this time sleeping but can take actions at night if forced to do so, suffering a +2 step penalty to all checks. This penalty drops to +1 during twilight. Similarly, the creature's movement rate is halved at night or in cold weather.Adventure HookWhen kinori are found in the sewers of Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, the heroes wade in to deal with the situation (in whatever manner they or their employers deems appropriate). But a few weeks later, reports surface of giant lizards in the area, with more than a few deaths blamed on them. The sightings are mostly concentrated south of the city - well away from any sufficiently large sewer openings - and are moving progressively farther south, as though the giant lizards were making for the wilderness. Complicating matters, some reports mention the giant lizards being herded by "reptile men", which suggests that the heroes failed to deal with all the kinori in Darwin. Did the heroes find all the kinori or not? Can they track down the giant lizards? And if so, can they find them before they kill anyone else?[/sblock]A very fluff-filled lizard, but a lizard nonetheless. For basics, I imagine we have a size Huge creature of the Animal type on our hands, one that spreads disease and has stench at that.Extrapolating from the conversion guide, its d20 Modern ability scores are as follows, with comparisons to the current big reptiles in d20 Modern:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Outback Dragon: Strength 20, Dexterity 10, Constitution 22, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 1.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Giant Crocodile: Strength 27, Dexterity 12, Constitution 19, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 2.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Advanced Monitor Lizard: Strength 33, Dexterity 11, Constitution 25, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 13, Charisma 2.</li> </ul>It seems to be right in line as far as Intelligence and Wisdom go, and it is sandwiched in between the Huge monitor and the giant crocodile when it comes to physical prowess. I personally think that the monitor's Strength and Constitution scores are rather wonky due to the oddness that size advancement sometimes provides, so...yeah.I'm pretty comfortable with just bumping up Intelligence and Charisma alike to 2 and possibly upping Strength to 24. But that's just my opinion, of course; what do y'all think?</blockquote>

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