Megalania

This massive lizard has a heavy build. A small crest arises between its eyes, and its massive  maw is lined with serrated, swordlike teeth. A powerful tail lashes back and forth.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
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The megalania, or giant goanna, is a giant monitor lizard. This fearsome predator hunts birds, mammals, and reptiles smaller than itself, as well as scavenging to supplement its diet. Its name means “great roamer”, although  in some dialects it is known as “Ancient Giant Butcher”. A megalania hunts  during the day, although it rests during the hottest hours. A megalania is 24 to 26 feet long and weighs nearly a ton.

Megalania (Giant Plains Lizard)
Huge animal
Hit Dice	12d8+84 (138 hp)
Initiative	+0
Speed	40 ft. (8 squares), Swim 30 ft.
Armor Class	16 (-2 size, +8 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple	+9/+28
Attack	Bite +18 melee (3d6+11/18-20/x3 plus disease)
Full Attack	Bite +18 melee (3d6+11/18-20/x3 plus disease) or tail slap +18 melee (2d6+16)
Space/Reach	15 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks	Augmented critical, disease, tail sweep
Special Qualities	Low-Light Vision, Scent
Saves	Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +5
Abilities	Strength 33, Dexterity 11, Constitution 25, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 2
Skills	Climb +14, Hide +5*, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +4, Swim +19
Feats	Alertness, Awesome Blow, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Trip (B), Power Attack
Environment	Warm plains
Organization	Solitary
Challenge Rating	8
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	13-24 HD (Huge); 25-36 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

Despite its size and strength, a megalania is an ambush hunter, lying in wait within grass and shrubs. It shreds foes with its mouth full of serrated teeth, which also spreads a painful disease. If bothered by multiple smaller foes, it sweeps with its tail to knock them down.

Augmented Critical (Ex): A megalania’s bite threatens a critical hit on a natural attack roll of 18–20, dealing triple damage on a successful critical hit.

Disease (Ex): Red Ache – bite, Fortitude DC 23, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d6 Strength. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Tail Sweep (Ex): A megalania can sweep with its tail as a standard action. The sweep affects a half-circle with a radius of 5 feet, extending from an intersection on the edge of the megalania’s space in any direction. Creatures within the swept area are affected if they are one or more size categories smaller than the megalania. A tail sweep automatically deals tail slap damage and affected creatures must make DC 27 Reflex saves to or be knocked prone. The save DC is Strength-based.

Skills: A megalania has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. Megalania have a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. *In forested or overgrown areas, the Hide bonus improves to +8.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #167 (1991).