[Squirrel Ninjas] This thread is for you HinterWelt

[Drohem]

Hey Bill,

Some at Dragonsfoot created a new D&D monster, the Tribal Giant Squirrels.

However, the interesting part is the source material that prompted him to create the new creature.

Check out the source material pictures!  They are fracking awsome cool.  

I immediately thought of you when I saw these pictures, and thought that you might enjoy them.

Cheers!

[HinterWelt]

Those squirrels have nothing on my Sciurus Giganteus!



Thanks!!

[Drohem]

Wow!  That's a really cool pencil drawing.

[HinterWelt]

Wow!  That's a really cool pencil drawing.

That is the awesomeness of the Carmona brothers out of Spain. They did not bat an eye when I asked them to do a illo of carnivorous giant squirrels. They rock!

Also, here is Matthew Kaiser's conversion to True20 if it helps.

Sciurus Giganteus
"We had just got the daily dole, see, and we decided to take a short cut back home. Thalamus went ahead of me and that was when they jumped him. I thought it was a gang but it was animals. Sciurus the size of a pony. They tore him to shreds before my eyes. I ran as quickly as I could to get help but I was too late."- Micon the Greek reporting on the death of his friend

The Sciurus Giganteus are giant squirrels. They first began to appear near Roman settlements in Germania Magna about 200 years ago. They were mostly scavengers at first but as time passed and they spread beyond the borders of the dioeceses they began to prey on herd animal. Eventually they became bold enough to prey on humans. In the last 40 years the infestation of the Sciurus Giganteus has gone from bad to worse.

They hunt in packs and usually attack the unwary, weak or sick. They devour granaries and can devastate a provincia's supply of grain for the winter. Individually, they are not very formidable but in their packs they can be devastating.

They tend to nest in underground burrows, improvising with cellars or sewer when need be. Mus Giganteus are sometimes used to hunt their cousins and this has proven effective. The nests hold 2-3 young, while dens contain up to 24 adults willing to fight to the death for their young. The alarming part of this to the city prefects is that the Sciuri seem to be working together as a community.

Depending on their numbers, the Sciuri are anything from an annoyance to a threat. They hunt by night and as long as there is an adequate food supply they prefer to avoid humans. Unfortunately, having an adequate food supply means that their numbers will grow and the local food supplies will soon become inadequate. When this happens the flood gates are opened and the Sciuri overrun the local forces. Some small villages have disappeared overnight, leaving nothing but empty buildings and gnawed bones.

The Sciuri Gigantei have spread throughout the Empire and flourished with different levels of success. In Africa they have not taken hold as well due to climate and the experience of hunters. However, in the north across Germania Magna, Sarmatia and Scythia Magna they have been a plague. In the countryside they attack travelers and farms while in the cities they have become even more crafty. One tactic they use is to attack food vending stalls as the morning deliveries show up, running off with what they can carry in their cheeks. The city prefects have their hands full trying to deal with this problem and often hire outside their office in order to increase the hunting parties. It is not glamorous work but it can mean good pay depending on how desperate the city is.

Sciurus Giganteus have no armor.
Physical & Social Appearance: Sciurus Giganteus
Height: 5' - 8'
Weight: 100 lbs - 200 lbs
Eye Color: Brown
Skin Color: Pink
Hair Color: Brown - Black
Social Organization: Pack
Sciurus Giganteus
Type: 2nd Level Animal
Size: Medium
Speed: 50 ft.
Abilities: Str -1, Dex +3, Con +0, Int -4, Wis +0, Cha -3
Skills: Climb 0 (+11), Notice 5 (+5), Stealth 4 (+7)
Feats: Night Vision B, Skill Training
Traits: Scent
Combat: Attack +4 (+1 base, +3 Dex), Damage +1 (bite), Defense: Dodge/Parry +4/- (+1 base, +3 Dex), Initiative +3
Saving Throws: Toughness +0, Fortitude +0, Reflex +6 (+3 base, +3 Dex), Will +0
Spirit Points: 10
Skills: Sciurus Giganteus have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. Sciurus Giganteus use their Dexterity modifier for Climb checks.