54 - Spiked Tail Beast

As you advance through the underbrush, a gigantic form darts through the woods, knocking small trees over. It is a huge lizard-like creature, with a spiked tail powerful enough to crush a man with a single blow. These creatures are common in the lands of the barbarians. If you have a barbarian in the party, he will urge the party to keep their heads down and avoid confronting the creature. You must roll a 7 or better to do so. Add the barbarian’s level to the roll. If the roll fails, or if you do not have a barbarian in the party, you will have to fight the beast. Spiked tail beast, level 5 dinosaur boss, 6 life points, normal morale, no treasure. A character rolling a 1 on a Defense roll has his shield (if any) destroyed by the creature’s bite. In addition to its bite, every turn, the creature will flail its spiked tail and strike a random character. Shields and armor do not protect against the tail. The only option is to jump away! Rogues, elves and halflings add +½ L, barbarians add +1 to this Defense roll. The tail inflicts 2 Life damage if it strikes.