{"id":3518,"date":"2017-07-26T09:11:05","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T16:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=3518"},"modified":"2017-07-26T09:47:40","modified_gmt":"2017-07-26T16:47:40","slug":"homebrew-monsters-octopus-dragon-and-mantis-dragon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=3518","title":{"rendered":"Homebrew Monsters: Octopus Dragon and Mantis Dragon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While the bestiaries for Numenera, The Strange, and Cypher System have plenty of wonderful creatures for your players to encounter, sometimes you see something you know your players need to encounter during their adventures.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gomalemo.tumblr.com\/post\/159572310912\/octopus-dragon\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3519\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?attachment_id=3519\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=1024%2C725&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,725\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=640%2C453&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3519\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=640%2C453\" alt=\"A dragon-like sea creature with blue rings, and spikes and 4 legs ending in claw, four ending in tentacles\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C544&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6>Octopus Dragon (Level 7)<\/h6>\n<p>While it bears little relation to the intelligent octopodes that reside in the deep, the Octopus Dragon was named for it&#8217;s resemblance to them. A cunning predator, the Octopus Dragon camouflages itself to match it&#8217;s surroundings and ambushes it&#8217;s prey. An Octopus Dragon can breath air, but prefers the ocean, where it&#8217;s a more effective hunter.\u00a0Octopodes despise any association with these relatively mindless predators and will pay handsomely to anyone who brings evidence of a successful kill.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Motive:<\/strong> Hungers for flesh<br \/>\n<strong>Environment:<\/strong> Anywhere in the Ocean, Solitary<br \/>\n<strong>Health:<\/strong> 35<br \/>\n<strong>Damage Inflicted:<\/strong> 8 points<br \/>\n<strong>Modifications:<\/strong> Stealth as Level 9, Speed Defense as Level 6 due to size<br \/>\n<strong>Movement:<\/strong> Short<br \/>\n<strong>Combat:<\/strong> The Octopus Dragon can make two attacks in a round, a bite attack, a claw attack, and\/or grabbing with it&#8217;s tentacles. The bite attack is venomous and requires a Might Defense roll if the attack succeeds. On a failed roll, the victim becomes respiratory muscles begin to seize up, and breathing becomes difficult. They take an additional 2 points of Intellect Damage (then Might, then Speed) each round as oxygen struggles to make it to their brain. To stop the progress of the venom, someone must pass a level 6 heal check, assisting with false respiration.<br \/>\nThe tentacle attack prevents the Octopus Dragon from moving, but allows it to grab onto a target, increasing the difficulty of avoiding it&#8217;s bite or claws by two levels. To avoid being grabbed, the adventurer must succeed on a Might Defense roll, level 7.<br \/>\n<strong>Interaction:<\/strong> The Octopus Dragon is not intelligent like the Octopodes it resembles. It cannot be reasoned with. Patient predators, they use their superior camouflage abilities to blend in the with terrain and attack when prey draws near.<br \/>\n<strong>Use:<\/strong> When a party is investigating something on the sea floor or in a coral reef, the Octopus Dragon might be laying in wait. They are drawn to numenera, or semi-precious jewels, and will kill to add them to their hoard.<br \/>\n<strong>Loot:<\/strong> Like most dragons, the Octopus Dragon keeps a hoard, usually in a nearby cave. While typically composed of pearls and shells, adventurers may also find several oddities, 2d20 abadis, 2-3 cyphers or even an artifact in the hoard. If time is taken, a careful explorer might be able to extract enough venom for three uses from the mouth of the Octopus Dragon.<br \/>\n<strong>GM Intrusion:\u00a0<\/strong>The PC fails to realize that the Octopus Dragon has another limb that has been camouflaged, and it now uses it to attack the PC.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gomalemo.tumblr.com\/post\/159572374352\/mantis-dragon\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3520\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?attachment_id=3520\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C848&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,848\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=640%2C453&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3520\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=640%2C453\" alt=\"A dragon like creature with front arms like a preying mantis, and dragonfly like wings\" width=\"640\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=768%2C543&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevwfmibh1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?resize=1024%2C724&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6>Mantis Dragon (Level 6)<\/h6>\n<p>With a silhouette that shocks with its very wrongness, the Mantis Dragon is an enormous hybrid that is as deadly as it is frighteningly alluring . With their ability to enthrall prey, Mantis Dragons typically wait until their targets are too close to even contemplate escape before capturing them with their hypnotic hum and fluttering of wings. Many an unlucky explorer has been ripped apart by a Mantis Dragon&#8217;s powerful forelegs, dumbly smiling all the while.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Motive:<\/strong> Hungers for flesh<br \/>\n<strong>Environment:<\/strong> Grasslands, temperate and tropical climates, Solitary<br \/>\n<strong>Health:<\/strong> 28<br \/>\n<strong>Damage Inflicted:<\/strong> 6<br \/>\n<strong>Modifications:<\/strong> Stealth as Level 7, Perception as Level 7<br \/>\n<strong>Movement:<\/strong> Short, Long when flying<br \/>\n<strong>Combat:<\/strong> The Mantis Dragon has powerful forelegs that it uses to clasp and cut apart it&#8217;s prey. Once grasped in the strong forelegs, it&#8217;s a difficulty 8 Might Defense roll to escape. The Mantis Dragon does an additional 2 points of damage each round once it has a creature in it&#8217;s clutches.<br \/>\nThe Mantis Dragon frequently mesmerizes it&#8217;s prays with it&#8217;s wings. As an action, the Mantis Dragon may spread it&#8217;s wings and move towards it&#8217;s prey in a slow rhythmic motion, emitting a low hum. Each creature in line of sight must make a Level 6 Intellect Defense roll or become mesmerized by the patterns in it&#8217;s wings and the sound it makes. On a failure, the targets are stunned and unable to take actions until the Mantis Dragon ceases it&#8217;s dance, or they suffer harm from an attack.<br \/>\nThe Mantis Dragon can also bite it&#8217;s prey, though it&#8217;s preferred attack is to crush a victim in it&#8217;s forelegs.<br \/>\n<strong>Interaction:<\/strong> Mantis Dragons are predators, and cannot be reasoned with.<br \/>\n<strong>Use:<\/strong> The Mantis Dragon, blends into the surrounding environment, rather then tracking it&#8217;s prey. The party might venture into its territory and it sees a chance for a meal, or hunters in the region have reported the Mantis Dragon as a threat on their ability to hunt for food for their families.<br \/>\n<strong>Loot:<\/strong> Mantis Dragons hide their hoards well, and it will take some time to discover it&#8217;s location. The hoard typically consists of 2d20 shins, several oddities, and 2-3 cyphers, taken from previous meals.<br \/>\n<strong>GM Intrusion:<\/strong> While an adventurer is in its clasp, the Mantis Dragon takes to the air, and drops them. The adventurer has moments to try to stop their fall.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Images from <a href=\"https:\/\/gomalemo.tumblr.com\/\">Gomalemo <\/a>on Tumblr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the bestiaries for Numenera, The Strange, and Cypher System have plenty of wonderful creatures for your players to encounter, sometimes you see something you know your players need to encounter during their adventures. Octopus Dragon (Level 7) While it bears little relation to the intelligent octopodes that reside in the deep, the Octopus Dragon&hellip; <a class=\"continue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=3518\">Continue Reading Homebrew Monsters: Octopus Dragon and Mantis Dragon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[41,88,66,34],"tags":[178,12,177,14,9,107],"class_list":["post-3518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-cypher","category-numenera","category-the-strange","tag-creatures","tag-cypher","tag-homebrew","tag-megan","tag-numenera","tag-the-strange"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/tumblr_ooevspNZIM1vp2djto1_1280.jpg?fit=1024%2C725&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5r9Oo-UK","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1750,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=1750","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":0},"title":"Review: Cypher System","author":"Aser Tolentino","date":"October 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The greatest thing about the prior Cypher System games, Numen\u00e8ra and The Strange, is the simple, flexible, yet deceptively nuanced mechanics that work together to really animate any story you care to tell. Yet as liberating from the setting of the Ninth World as The Strange was, it still constrained\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cypher System&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cypher System","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=88"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cypher System Corebook cover. Shows images from superhero, horror, scifi, and fantasy scenarios","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Cover-Mockup-2015-04-08-Opt2c.jpg?fit=933%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Cover-Mockup-2015-04-08-Opt2c.jpg?fit=933%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Cover-Mockup-2015-04-08-Opt2c.jpg?fit=933%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Cover-Mockup-2015-04-08-Opt2c.jpg?fit=933%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4902,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=4902","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":1},"title":"Numenera: Microfugue State","author":"trfadmin","date":"March 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A team is hired for an unusual excursion to cure a strange infection. GM: Megan Players: Aser, Landan, and Shaunna System: Numenera Discovery If you want to hear more Numenera on The Amber Clave, check us out on Twitter @amberclave\u00a0or go to our\u00a0website. Special thanks to our Agent+ patrons: Ben,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cypher System&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cypher System","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=88"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":490,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=490","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":2},"title":"Why The Cypher System is a Blind GM&#8217;s Best Friend","author":"Aser Tolentino","date":"January 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the principal selling points for the Cypher System is the ease with which a GM can pick it up and be running epic games of action, intrigue and suspense in just minutes. The thing is, that many of the steps that Monte Cook Games took to achieve this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Accessibility&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Accessibility","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=168"},"img":{"alt_text":"Braille d20 from 64 oz Games","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0029-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":474,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=474","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":3},"title":"Game Review: The Strange","author":"Aser Tolentino","date":"January 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the greatest things to come from starting The Redacted Files, though nothing in comparison to meeting Megan of course, was the discovery of just how diverse the tabletop gaming genre really is. We've tried something like a dozen games sofar, and bought tons more. I'm new to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog Posts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=41"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3665,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=3665","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":4},"title":"Mysteries of the Ninth World 24: Mungrun Revisited","author":"trfadmin","date":"September 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As they descend into Hell. the adventurers encounter enemies and challenges from scenarios past. GM: Megan Players: Aser, Landan, and Shaunna. System: Numenera Music by Kevin MacLeod, \"Decisions.\"\u00a0(incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/ Direct Download! [iframe style=\"border:none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/5769599\/height\/100\/width\/480\/thumbnail\/yes\/render-playlist\/no\/theme\/legacy\/tdest_id\/205325\" height=\"100\" width=\"480\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen]","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cypher System&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cypher System","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=88"},"img":{"alt_text":"a globe floats in the center of a room as a person looks in at it from a hex square in the wall","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/baw-art-1.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/baw-art-1.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/baw-art-1.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2121,"url":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?p=2121","url_meta":{"origin":3518,"position":5},"title":"Review: Extreme Cyphers","author":"Megan","date":"February 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes a regular cypher just won't do... Extreme Cyphers is the newest glimmer from Monte Cook Games and is compatible with Numenera, The Strange, and The Cypher System. It contains 40 new Cyphers with much more dramatic effects then the standard cyphers found throughout the games. There's a handy table\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog Posts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/?cat=41"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3518"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3525,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518\/revisions\/3525"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theredactedfiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}