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Monday, October 21, 2013

New AS&SH Monster - Atlantian Waste Hounds or The O'phatharloth

File:Giuseppe Arcimboldo - Sketch for a Cerberus - WGA00875.jpg


The O'phatharloth
No. Encountered: 1d6
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Size: M
Movement: 20
Dexterity: 4
Armour Class: 7
Hit Dice: 3
No. of Attacks: 2 (Claw and Bite)
Damage: 1d6 Claw or 1d3 Bite
Saving Throw: 16
Morale: 12
Experience Points: 52
Treasure Class: J,K,L,M

The O'phatharloth are the spawn of foul toxic wastes from the Old Earth and the surviving  reptile hounds of Atlantis that have managed to thrive in the remotest corners of the world. These diseased and dire spawn from the nameless Hells of Old are whispered about in the taverns of Khormarium.
Upon scaled claws these mad bastard mutate hounds track their prey across the wastes and their howling can be heard echoing across the plains were they make their home. Often found among the rocks and mountain regions the world of Hyperborea.
  The O'phatharloth use all three heads and have a central mind to direct themselves as both scavenger supreme and trackless hunters. They run down prey using both pack tactics and their wickedly sharp claws. Their bite leaves ragged holes which take dire magic to heal and they have been known to track their prey for miles. 
Their twisted and stunted wings while useless provide them with warmth and it is said are able convert sunlight into nourishment on the hunt. 

It is said that these beasts are known to haunt the crypts of magicians and sorcerers of old drawn by the scent of magic and forbidden energies that leech from such places. Many wizards and necromancers take advantage of these creatures sensitivity magic and summon packs of them to act as guardians and hunters of their properties in the wastes.
 Packs of these things have a weird telepathic rapture  with one an another and act as one often coordinating themselves on the hunt and driving prey into box canyons and the like. While they can be summoned there are few on Hyperborea able to control the wild and chaotically evil creatures. The O'phatharloth have been known to attack caravans, wanderers, and any creature showing sights of weakness. The monsters torture and harass their prey for hours and sometimes days using them for sport as well as entertainment!
 Any baubles the creatures find upon prey and adventurers is used to attract mates and to decorate nests. The males circle their nests with such shiny baubles and those doused with blood. The scent attracting the females of the species as easily as gems or kills.
Wizards have been known to summon packs of these things to track down sources of magic or forbidden sorcery. The presence of such has been known to drive creatures such as the O'phatharloth into frenzy and almost sheer madness.
 
The O'phatharloth have a wide range and certain wizards are known to breed and sell these things. Because they are warm blooded with more then a trace of the demonic about them they require fresh kills more then twice a week. They will however kill for the sport of it and then store such food until it ripens nicely.
Many of the standard monster summoning spells will call these creatures but must be cast within the wastelands of Hyperborea. 

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