Ridge Runner
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Climate/Terrain | Any non-arctic |
| Frequency | Very rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle | Night |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Intelligence | High (13-14) |
| Treasure | B |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| No. of Appearing | 1 |
| Armor Class | 2 |
| Move | 24 |
| Hit Dice | 8 |
| THAC0 | 13 |
| No. of Attacks | 3 |
| Damage/Attack | 1d4+1/1d4+1/2d4 |
| Special Attacks | See below |
| Special Defenses | Immune to poisons and stinking cloud. |
| Magic Resistance | 30% |
| Size | L (7'+ tall) |
| Morale | Fanatic (17-18) |
| XP Value | 4,000 |
(based on the Andre Norton's Witch World Books)
Description
A ridge runder continously broadcast an aura of fear. Anyone under 6th level panics when they get within 100' of the creature (no save allowed). Higher levels characters get a save to negate this effect. The panic lasts for 1d6 turns. This fear effect does not require the victim to see the ridge runner, just be within the area of effect.
The ridge runner emits a very foul smell up to 500' downwind or 50' upwind (250' radius if no wind). Anyone smelling this stench must save versus poison or be driven off with nausea for 1d10 rounds.
Ridge runners are furry bipeds. Their legs bend like bird legs and are hairless from calf to foot, ending in clawed, bird-like feet. The head of a ridge runner looks like that of a wolf. They have long, flexible necks (height to bottom of neck approx 5', neck 18 inches, head another 6 inches in height, 10 inches muzzle to back of head).
Ridge runners stake out a territory and constantly patrol it during the night. By the day they sleep holed up somewhere (typically caves or hollows they dig in the ground). Ridge runners are solitary beings. They lay eggs but do not tend their young or eggs. Ridge runners have tremendous endurance and hunt by driving prey into collapse due to fatigue.
Ridge runners have magical abilities:
- curse,
- cause light wound,
- ray of enfeeblement, and
- web
If a ridge runner succeeds in webbing a victim, they will bite it and drain its blood and strength. A bit victim loses 1 point of strength per round and takes 1d4 points of damage.