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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mortis" data-source="post: 5695123" data-attributes="member: 16284">Here's the version from the earlier (1986) AC9 - Creature CatalogueSIS’THIK (DESERT SCOURGE) Armour Class: 5 or 4Hit Dice: 3+3Move: 90’ (40’)Attacks: 2 claws and 1 bite or 1 weaponDamage: 1-6/1-6/1-3 or by weapon +2No. Appearing: 2-12 (30-180)Save As: Fighter: 2Morale: 10Treasure Type: AIntelligence: 8Alignment: NeutralXP Value: 50 The sis’thiks (or desert scourges) are nomadic lizard-like humanoids who live in burning deserts. They have self-sealing nostrils and transparent membranous eye screens which allow them to function in the fiercest of sand storms. Their skin is thick and leathery, reducing water loss to a minimum, and giving them Armour Class 5 without a shield (AC 4 with a shield). A sis’thik can travel long distances, and even fight in the midday sun, with a daily water intake of less than a quarter of the amount a human would need.The female sis’thiks control the tribe and do all the fighting. The males, who tend to be slow and stupid, watch the tribe’s animals (see below) and, when they are not working, spend their time basking in the sun.Sis’thiks are a proud, warrior race who fear no-one and nothing. They consider the desert to be their property, and all who cross it or live in it do so only by the sis’thiks’ goodwill. Caravans are allowed to cross the desert only if they do not offend against the sis’thiks’ customs. In practical terms this means that caravan leaders must debase themselves before the sis’thiks while heaping presents upon the creatures. Metal goods, gems and fine wines are most favoured by the sis’thiks, and it is a wise caravaneer who lays in ample supplies of these items for any crossing of sis’thik lands.The sis’thiks have domesticated the fierce desert dwelling xytars (see page 81) which are bred as mounts. Two sis’thik warriors are closely attached to each xytar, and are responsible for its well being and training. Both sis’thiks ride the creature, one controls the action of the xytar and attacks with a long spear, while the other attacks with either a short bow or a long spear. When ridden by sis’thiks a xytar’s morale increases to 10, but the sis’thiks are unable to make the xytar use its breath weapon at will, so there is still only a 33% chance (1-2 on 1d6) that it will breathe.Occasionally sis’thik tribes work in conjunction with blue dragons to attack settlements near to their deserts. Sis’thiks riding the dragons sweep over the walls of the settlement as xytar-mounted sis’thiks attack and storm the gates. Fortunately these alliances are very rare and last only long enough to satisfy both the dragons’ greed for treasure, and the sis’thiks’ love of battle.Female sis’thiks are very strong and inflict an extra 2 points of damage with any weapon they use. When not mounted, they use scimitars (long, curved swords - D 1-8) as well as biting their opponents. They are led by a queen with 8 Hit Dice who does +3 damage and who has 2d4 4 Hit Dice bodyguards with her at all times. Each tribe also has ld4 shamans of levels 1-8 who care for the spiritual needs of the tribe.Sis’thiks are unaffected by normal fires and take only minimum damage from magical fires.RegardsMortis</blockquote>

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