New Oe/1e/BX Monster: Snatching Serpent

Today's new monster is inspired by this John R. Neill illustration
from the Frank Baum book Ojo in Oz. (Yes, that Oz.)

Snatching Serpent

Illustration by John R. Neill DESCRIPTION Simply put, snatching serpents are kleptomaniacs. They make their homes in hollow trees near well-traveled roads where they wait to prey upon unsuspecting passers-by. A snatching serpent will crawl into the leafy cover of an overhanging limb, drop down quickly and quietly, snatch up whatever item or items they can grab with their finger-like eye-stalks (picking pockets as a 10th level thief), and deposit the spoils in the hollow of their tree lair. While they are prone to retreat from encounters outside their lairs (morale of 5), they are also fiercely protective of their horde (morale of 11). When forced to attack, they choose one of two methods: they will use branches as clubs (doing 1d4 on a successful "to hit" roll), or they will attempt to grasp their opponent and squeeze. Normally, this squeeze will only do 1-2 points on a successful "to hit" roll. However, on a natural 20, a snatching serpent will have successfully grabbed the opponent's throat, and will not let go until the opponent has suffocated or the snatching serpent has been killed.

Oe/1E STATS FREQUENCY: Rare NO. APPEARING: 2-8 ARMOR CLASS: 7 MOVE: 18" HIT DICE: 2 % IN LAIR: 95% TREASURE TYPE: Q, S, T NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 or 1-2 SPECIAL ATTACKS: Pick pockets as 10th level thief, strangle attack SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard INTELLIGENCE: Semi- ALIGNMENT: Neutral SIZE: S (3'-4' long) PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil BX STATS ARMOR CLASS: 7 HIT DICE: 2 MOVE: 180' (60') ATTACKS: 1 branch or 1 squeeze DAMAGE: 1-4 or 1-2 + special NO. APPEARING: 2-8 SAVE AS: Fighter:1 MORALE: 5 (11 in lair) TREASURE TYPE: L, N, O ALIGNMENT: Neutral