The Storm Broodling

*Art By Kristian Juul Rasmussen (AKA skrir on deviant art)

[Below you'll find the first of five new monsters for both 3rd and 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons. While the description works for both, you'll find the 3rd edition stats on the left and the 4th edition stats on the right.]

When the world started to take form and humanoids were taking their first tentative steps towards civilization, magic roamed the realms. Magic filled the land and sank deep beneath the crust of the surface.

There she waited, one of the first creations of the world. Deep in the dark she soaked up this energy, taking stock of the realms around her for the first time. Enthralled by her power she named herself Queen Anzu, and using her new gifts she begot children. Unable to truly create progeny Queen Anzu took other creatures that fit her image, and subverted them, magically twisting them into the servants she would need.

The Children of Anzu are insectoid creatures of magical origin, they vary greatly in size, shape, color, and abilities. The thing they share, however, is a dark need to fulfill their Queen's wishes. Queen Anzu has a great plan for the world, and although many sages have tried to grasp a clue as to what it is, this goal is too alien for mortal minds to comprehend. From the lowliest broodling to the highest Spawnmother the Children of Anzu are a threat that has great plans for the world at large.

Today's specimen is the Broodling, the most widely known of the Children of Anzu. They serve as cannon fodder and expendable labor for their species and are empowered with elemental energy to survive the harshest of terrains.


Storm Broodling
The insect-like creature you see before you is the size of a dog and protected by a thick layer of scales. Flaps open on its side and the hair on your arm tingles as electricity begins to jump between the two viscous looking horns atop its head.

STORM BROODLING CR ½
LE Small magical beast
Init +1 Senses Listen +3, Spot +3
Languages understands Common; cannot speak

AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 13
(size +1, +1 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 4 (½ HD)
Resist electricity 5
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +1

Speed 30 ft.
Melee gore +2 (1d4)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +1; Grp -3
Atk Options electroblast

Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 3
Feats Ability Focus [electroblast]
Skills Listen +3, Spot +3

Electroblast (Su) The Storm Broodling draws electricity into it's horns and expels it in a 5 ft line. Creatures hit must make a DC 14 Reflex save or take 1d8 points of damage.

The storm broodling serves as simple cannon fodder and expendable labor for the Children. The inscrutable goals of their Queen however means that they may be found serving any number of “masters” all the while carrying out the silent orders of their mistress.

Strategies and Tactics
Aware that their primary purpose during combat is to decrease the resources of their opponents storm broodlngs frequently move around the battlefield setting up next to new opponents so they may spread the pain with their electroblast attack. They are unafraid and fight until death unless they receive orders from either a higher ranking Child of Anzu or their current master.
If a storm broodling finds out that its attacks have little or no affect on their enemy they will change tactics. By moving into flanking and concentrating on a single opponent storm broodlings hope to capitalize on their greater numbers.

Environment
Although they prefer the charged air outside during a tempest, storm broodlings usually spend their time either with their masters or wandering the area around and inside their current lair.

Typical Physical Characteristics
Storm broodlings are usually 2 feet tall and 2 and a half feet long. Their skin is usually ocean blue, while their legs are seafoam green. Their most prominent features are their hollow horns and the scales on their sides (both bleach white) which open up and draw in the latent electricity in the area to power their elecroblast.

Alignment
Although not every Child of Anzu shares their loyalty and devotion broodlings are lawful evil. They care little for other creatures except for how they work into Lady Anzu's grand plot, but among their own kind they are fiercely protective.