Buy me a coffeeNycar
Originally Posted by demiurge1138 of the En World forums.
Nycars are a very primitive form of dragon; sages believe they predate even the wyverns and linnorms in antiquity. They are strict carnivores with little Intelligence that hunt in swamps and bogs for warm-blooded prey. For dragons, they are quite common, appearing wherever there is food and stagnant water. As such, they have many names, including swamp serpent, lesser linnorm, and dragonsnake.
The Geat hero Beowulf encountered several nycars during his adventuring youth; the swamp where Grendel’s mother lived was crawling with them, and his retainers dispatched one while he suited up for battle.
The water was infested with all kinds of reptiles. There were writhing sea-dragons and monsters slouching on slopes by the cliff, serpents and wild things such as those that often surface at dawn to roam the sail road and doom the voyage.
This serpentine creature is mottled green and gray, with a crested, almost dragon-like, head. Its two limbs are little more than flippers with claws, although it can slither with surprising speed.
Beowulf Lines 1425-1430
| Nycar | |
| Large Dragon | |
| Hit Dice | 10d12+40 (105 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 30ft, Swim 40ft |
| Armor Class | 20 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +10 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +10/+20 |
| Attack | Bite +15 melee (1d10+6 plus disease) |
| Full Attack | Bite +15 melee (1d10+6 plus disease), 2 claws +10 melee (1d6+3) |
| Space/Reach | 10ft /10ft (coiled) |
| Special Attacks | Constrict 1d8+9, disease, improved grab |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 60ft, dragon traits, Low-Light Vision, SR 19 |
| Saves | Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +10 |
| Abilities | Strength 23, Dexterity 13, Constitution 19, Intelligence 5, Wisdom 17, Charisma 13 |
| Skills | Hide -3*, Move Silently +14*, Spot +16, Survival +16, Swim +14 |
| Feats | Ability Focus (disease), Diehard, Endurance, Track |
| Environment | Cold and temperate marsh |
| Organization | Solitary or pack (2-7) |
| Challenge Rating | 9 |
| Treasure | Half standard |
| Alignment | Usually neutral evil |
| Advancement | 11-20 HD (Large), 21-30 HD (Huge) |
Combat
Nycars are quite Stealthy in their natural habitat, and prefer to ambush their prey. Nycars usually grab their victims from hiding, and bite repeatedly until the foe is dead. If the prey escapes, the nycar follows it through the swamp, waiting for it to die from the septic bacteria it spreads with its bite.
Constrict (Ex) A nycar deals 1d8+9 points of damage each round on a successful grapple check.
Disease (Ex) Any creature hit by a nycar’s bite attack must make a Fortitude save (DC 21) or contract linnorm fever, a horrible wasting disease that acts like an accelerated form of Leprosy. The incubation period is 12 hours, and it 1d6 points of Strength and 1d3 points of Constitution damage per day.
Improved Grab (Ex) To use this ability, the nycar must hit an opponent with a bite attack. If it gets a hold, it deals automatic bite damage and can constrict.
Skills A nycar has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. They can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. They can use the run action while swimming, provided they Swim in a straight line.
Nycars receive a +8 racial bonus to all Hide and Move Silently checks made in marshes.