Cryptid: Wolfman of Wolfe County, Kentucky

As promised before, due to my love of a specific hillbilly monster-hunting television show, and in preparation for a campaign I'll be running called "Dark Appalachia," is the first monster I've chosen to create, taking the lore from the show and using it to build a creepy cryptid for the aforementioned game. The rules system will be BECMI, strictly by the book, although I may rely on a different method of resolution in forthcoming descriptions than those original boxed sets might (for instance, they rarely call for Ability Checks, and I might write that into a description). But, on to the monster!

WOLFMAN OF WOLFE COUNTY, KY

Armor Class:  5

Hit Dice:  5 (L)

Move:   150' (50')

Attacks:  2 claws/1 bite

Damage:  2d4/2d4/1d10

No. Appearing:  0 (1d2)

Save As:  F5

Morale:  10

Treasure Type:  Nil

Intelligence:  5

Alignment:  Chaotic

XP Value:  175

    Monster Type: Humanoid (Very Rare).

    In Wolfe County, KY, a strange creature has been sighted on more than a few occasions by the folks who live near and in certain wooded areas, often near old, abandoned silver mines in the area.  Appearing 7' tall and approximately 400 lbs., and colored like a coyote with a dark mane down its back, the wolfman looks as if it is some sort of humanoid bear/wolf/ape hybrid.  It does not fear man or gunfire, and often seeks out both.  

    The wolfman is strong enough to leave claw marks in rock, and often leaves traces behind when it climbs a rock face (Climb Walls 80%)  near its lair (caves or old mines are preferred). It will often discard the bones of its prey in these same caves, in piles, since it has a dedicated feeding area. They often hunt coyotes specifically, but have been known to take down a 1,000 lbs. bull.  It often calls through the forest around its territory, a strange call that starts as a howl and ends as a deep roar. They live in mated pairs, and are smart enough to toy with hunters or prey before moving in for the kill, as well as avoid obvious traps.

    In combat, they attack with claws and their bite, both of which deal a fair bit of damage. They will retreat if outmatched, but are quite brave if the odds are even. They can surprise a foe on 1-2 on 1d6.

    Terrain:  Cavern, Woods.

AI-Generated Art

New Monster: Carnivorous Hamshark

While not one of the monsters I promised in the previous post about a certain hillbilly monster-hunting show, what follows is a writeup for the BECMI D&D rules of a monster my daughter drew a few weeks ago. I liked it so much, plus it made me laugh a little - come on... hamsters are funny. I thought it might fit in a post-apocalyptic setting, after a nuclear death. It reminds me of something that could be found in a Sterling Lanier novel.

CARNIVOROUS HAMSHARK

Armor Class:  7

Hit Dice:  2+2* (M)

Move:  120' (40')

Attacks:  2 claws/1 bite

Damage: 1d4/1d4/1d6+1

No. Appearing:  1d4 (2d8)

Save As: F3

Morale:  8

Treasure Type:  Nil

Intelligence:  2

Alignment:  Neutral

XP Value:  35

    Monster Type: Giant Animal (Rare).

    In the millennia since the end of civilization, many mutated creatures have evolved on the planet.  The so-called Carnivorous Hamshark is a burrow-dwelling cross between a furry hamster-like rodent and some kind of shark, however improbable this seems. The only thing that points to its shark ancestry are the teeth, which are nearly identical to pre-cataclysm aquatic sharks.

    Hamsharks are roughly 5' tall when standing on their hind legs and weigh nearly 400 pounds. Their jaws are incredibly powerful and they are competent hunters. They can track their quarry by smell alone (1 in 6 chance if the prey is within one mile).

    When the Carnivorous Hamshark hits with its bite attack, it achieves a very difficult to break hold on its victim. Each round it will stay attached and do automatic bite damage unless the bitten character succeeds on a Strength check. While the Hamshark is attached, only attacks with small or close-quarters weapons like knives can be made against it by the bitten character with no penalty. Medium weapons like long swords or scimitars (one-handed melee weapons larger than a short sword) can be used to attack while bitten, but at a -4 penalty. Large weapons like spears and two-handed swords cannot be used to attack an attached Hamshark.

    Terrain: Ruins, Woods.

Artwork (c) 2024 Ava Parrish