SNAKENECK

This seamonster is also known as Sailor's bane. It is a giant bird, with dark green, glossy feathers on its back and neck, and pale blue beneath. What is remarkable about it is its size - up to 10 metres from beak to tail and the fact that it has a long serpent-like neck. This can dart with blinding speed to seize its prey -usually fish. However, it often lurks below the surface, camouflaged by its colour, and then striking up out of the water to grab low-flying seabirds or even an incautious human from a passing boat. Snakenecks live around the coast and sometimes will swim into estuaries with the tide and take animals or people even from shores and wharves. While swift and graceful in the water, snakenecks are hampered on land by their weight and their oversized flippers, so can barely waddle. They come ashore but rarely - normally only to lay their eggs. They generally roost on desolate coasts or islands far offshore. During the period before the eggs hatch, they are mostly buried in sand, well above the water mark and several eggs are incubated by one parent from the brood, all the parents taking turns. The other parents stay in the water close by where they can feed, but still watch over the rookery. Fishermen or warriors for hire will sometimes seek out and attack rookeries, where they can catch the birds on land and also destroy their eggs to prevent them propagating in areas where they could be a danger.

STR 43 +6 DEX 15 +15 CON 30 +40 BOD 33 +34 INT 3 -7 EGO 3 -14 PRE 20 10 COM 8 -1 PD 15 +6 ED 15 +9 SPD 3 5 REC 9 END 60 STUN 55 Total 103 OCV 5 DCV 1 ECV 1

Powers 45 30 points of Growth, always on. (+4 to others sight percep., -6 KNB, +2" reach) 20 1 1/2 d6 HKA, reduced penetration (2 x 1 1/2 d6 with STR) 6 +2 PD/+2 ED armour (thick skin and feathers) 8 Swimming +8 " (10" total) 3 Ability to breathe underwater (1 recoverable charge, lasts 5 minutes, -1/2) - breath-holding ability, can only recharge above surface. 6 +3 with sight perception 6 +3 OCV with bite -6 -3" running (3" total) 88 Total powers and skills 191 Total creature cost 50 + DISADVANTAGES 15 Physical limitation - no fine manipulation 10 Physical limitation - cannot leap 10 Hunted 8- (by brave hunters and adventurers) 106 Sailor-eating bonus