Droth'yar

Another mount from Malevolent & Benign. Art by Claudio Pozas.

DROTH’YAR

SIZE: Large (12 ft. long)
MOVE: 150 ft.
ARMOR CLASS: 5
HIT DICE: 4
ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE: 2-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to poison
MAGIC RESISTANCE: None
RARITY: Rare
NO. ENCOUNTERED: 1-12
LAIR PROBABILITY: 10%
TREASURE: None
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
LEVEL/X.P.: 3 / 75 + 3/hp

General information: Droth’yar are swift, two-legged herbivores, used as mounts and beasts of burden. Droth’yar are highly adaptable, and several different breeds have evolved in different regions. Those found in arid lands are leaner and have longer legs than most, while droth’yar in areas with particularly harsh winters have been known to grow sleek coats of fur. All droth’yar are strict herbivores and regularly survive on plants poisonous to most species.

Droth’yar herds are usually led by a single dominant male. During mating season (the timing of which varies according to breed), droth’yar establish dominance by butting heads. Two competing droth’yar will fight until one dies or flees from the battle. In domestication, droth’yar are used to help plow fields, pull chariots, and transport goods between cities. They are occasionally used as mounts for soldiers, when more powerful exotic beasts are unavailable or too expensive. Droth’yar have a life expectancy of about fifteen years.

If encountered in their lair, there will be a nest for every two droth’yar. There is a 50% chance that there will be 2-12 eggs or young lizards of 25% to 50% maturity. The eggs are worth 25 gp and young droth’yar can be sold on the market for 50 gp each. An adult trained for riding typically sells for 100 gp while one trained for war sells at 200 gp.  Wild droth’yar only fight when cornered or defending their young. Droth’yar trained and bred for war are somewhat more vicious, but even they often require urging from their riders to fight.

Physical description: A droth’yar resembles an oversized lizard, bearing two thick legs but lacking forelimbs. Its head is vaguely draconic and sports a large horn which curves back toward its tail. Though a droth’yar walks upright, it keeps its neck lowered to help maintain its balance. Its tail drags behind it, nearly the same length as its body. An adult droth’yar stands about 6 feet high and is 12 feet long from its head to the base of its tail. Droth’yar have tough, mottled hides, colored in earth tones. They typically weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds.