Zhakar Lizard

Fastclaw
Medium-size Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 1d10+1 (7 hp)
Initiative: +2 (Dex)
Speed: 50 ft.
AC: 15 (+2 Dex, +3 natural)
Attacks: Bite +1 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Ensnaring tongue
Special Qualities: Light sensitivity, fire resistance 20, scent, darkvision 90 ft.
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 3, Will 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +8, Listen +3, Spot +3
Feats: Run
Climate/Terrain: Underground
Organisation: Solitary or pack (2-20)
Challenge Rating: ½
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Medium-size)

Warclaw
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 3d10+9 (26 hp)
Initiative: +1 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 15 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural)
Attacks: Bite +6 melee, 2 claws +4 melee
Damage: Bite 1d8+4, claws 1d6+2
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Ensnaring tongue
Special Qualities: Light sensitivity, fire resistance 20, scent, darkvision 90 ft.
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +9, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Multiattack
Climate/Terrain: Underground
Organisation: Solitary or pack (2-12)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Large), 7-9 HD (Huge)

Zhakar lizards are lean, powerful creatures with muscular hind legs, dextrous foreclaws, and talons that can grasp any extruding pieces of rock, allowing them to climb vertical cliffs with great ease. The typical fastclaw is five feet long, boasts a four-foot-long tail, and weighs about 150 pounds. Warclaws are much larger, with eight-foot bodies and six-foot tails.

Zhakar lizards have been carefully bred by the Zhakar dwarves in the centuries since the Cataclysm. Their predecessors were three-foot-long reptiles that were used as pets and for pest control in ancient Thoradin.

Fastclaws are sometimes used as beasts of burden or trained to carry messages; the Zhakar also use them as food. Warclaws are trained to carry Zhakar warriors into combat.

Combat

All Zhakar lizards possess sharp teeth, and are quick to bite any creature that irritates them. The larger warclaws also possess forelegs powerful enough to lash out with powerful blows that take full advantage of their sharp claws. As Zhakar lizards are naturally irritable by nature, only the Zhakar dwarves have learned the trick of handling these beasts without suffering constant attacks.

Ensnaring Tongue (Ex): As a standard action, a Zhakar lizard can strike an object with its long, strong tongue, attacking with its bite attack bonus to a range of 10 feet. If the object is unattended and weighs 10 pounds or less, a warclaw can grab the object and move it to any location within 10 feet of the creature (often its mouth). A fastclaw can grab any object that weihs 5 pounds or less.

If the object is being held by another creature, the Zhakar lizard can make a disarm attempt without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Furthermore, a Zhakar lizard can use its ensnaring tongue to attack Tiny or smaller opponents as thought it possessed the Improved Grab ability. If it gets a hold, it can bite.

Light Sensitivity (Ex): Zhakar lizards suffer a -2 circumstance penalty to attack rolls, saves, and checks in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.

Skills: Zhakar lizards gain a +4 racial bonus to Climb checks, and a +2 racial bonus to Listen and Spot checks.

About James O'Rance

James O'Rance was an early contributor to Dragonlance fandom, creating a complete rules system for Dragonlance. He also ran a Taladas website, creating several netbooks for Taladas. James was also active in the Planescape community. Unfortunately, James passed away several years back. The Dragonlance Nexus pays tribute to his legacy.
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