Ice Terror Broodling

*Art by Kristian Juul Rasmussen (AKA skrir on Deviant Art)

[Below you'll find the last of five new monsters (the first being the Storm Broodling) 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.]

Today's entry covers the ice terror broodling. The ice terror broodlings serve as Queen Anzu's elite archers, each one given an unnatural need to spill the blood of their foes.


Ice Terror Broodling
Before you, atop six legs, stands a monstrous beast with scales of winter white, tinged blue. The curving horns above its head are stained crimson from the blood of victims long dead, and saliva drips from its mouth in anticipation of the meal it will make of you.

Ice Terror Broodling CR 2
LE Medium magical beast
Init +3 Senses darkvision 60ft, low-light vision, Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages understands Common; cannot speak

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12
( +3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 11 (2 HD)
Resist cold 5
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +4

Speed 30ft
Melee gore +3 melee (1d6+2)
Ranged Horn Harpoon +5 (1d6+1 and 1 Constitution drain)
Space 5ft.; Reach 5ft.
Base Atk +1; Grp +3
Atk Options horn harpoon, blood shard fusillade

Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 4
Feats Point Blank Shot
Skills Move Silently +6, Hide +6

Horn Harpoon (Ex) An ice terror broodling can fire its harpoonlike horn up to 25ft (no range increment). A successful hit deals 1d6 +1 damage and 1 point of Constitution drain as the broodling drains the blood of its victim. This allows it to use blood shard fusillade (see below).

Blood Shard Fusillade (Su) As a standard action an ice terror broodling can use the elemental cold that is their birthright to freeze the blood it has collected using its horn harpoon into many tiny darts. It then launches these darts from its mouth at the foe. This is an attack against a single enemy within 50ft that deals 2d6 cold damage (Reflex DC 13 half).

The Ice Terror broodlings are Queen Anzu's elite archers, powerful minions who are the scourge of their artic homes. Using a strange filament they can propel their out a great distance and then draw them back in again. But not before they have stored the blood they need for their peculiar diet.

Strategies and Tactics
The ice terror broodling is all about ranged combat. While he has means to defend himself in melee, he is vulnerable there, and his greatest attacks are wasted. So the ice terror broodling fights from afar, starting out the battle with blood shard fussillade, and then using horn harpoon on his next turn to recharge it.

Environment
Ice terror broodlings live in lands frozen over by winter's snows, or in places where the sun's light is weak. These places include caves deep beneath the surface of the earth, and lands that see have no spring.

Typical Physical Characteristics
With scales of white, tinged in blue and legs of icy azure the Ice Terror broodling stands at an intimidating 4 1/2 feet tall, and is 3 feet long. While it has the customary mandible that all broodlings share, it is the creature's horns, crusted with frozen blood that catches the eyes of most.

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.