Part 4 · Monsters & Creatures
Snapper
One of the oldest inhabitants of the Verdant Clearing, it has learned to adapt in order to survive the trials of time.
Deep in the forests of Ionia you can hear the footsteps of many gigantic creatures, but the most carefree of them all is certainly the Snapper.
These enormous beasts can exceed 4 meters in length and outweigh a basilisk. They’re protected by a shell made of scales into which they can withdraw during a storm, or simply to take a nap.
When curled up inside its shell, a Snapper isn’t much different from an enormous moss-covered boulder, and even though its coloring is unusual by the standards of other parts of the world, in Ionia, where magic is more present, that isn’t something anyone finds strange.
Its head, neck, and tail also have pinkish scales on their upper side, suggesting that they don’t need as much protection on the underside of their bodies.
Similar to catfish barbels, Snappers have two pairs of these “whiskers,” one growing beneath their nostrils and another like antennae atop their heads, perhaps allowing them to sense whether a creature means them harm or not.
Kindness or Brutality
These creatures typical of Ionia are also known as volatile giants, due to their adaptability to the most diverse situations.
They can be extremely gentle, playing with travelers as if they were simple pets… which can sometimes be quite problematic given their size and weight.
When attacked, these creatures can also become a brutal force, hardening their bodies or strengthening their natural weapons, depending on the situation they find themselves in.
Rewards
Crafting Items
The materials obtained from a Snapper’s body are extraordinarily resilient, and can be used to craft items:
- The Scales of the Snapper can be used by a creature with the Armorer Craft to create a Scale Mail. The DC to craft this armor increases to 15, but the armor crafted from a Snapper’s scales gains +1 to its AC and grants Bludgeoning damage resistance to whoever wears it.
Snapper Statblock
Snapper
Beast, Large
- Senses
- Darkvision 30 feet. Passive Perception 14
- Speed
- 20 feet of walking and 40 feet of swimming
- Skills
- Perception +4
- Languages
- Sylvan
Defenses
Saving Throws: Constitution +8
Damage Resistance: Bludgeoning damage
Condition Immunity: Grappled, Exhaustion, Paralyzed, Petrified, and Restrained
Characteristics
Environmental Adaptation. The Snapper has advantage on all saving throws related to environments, but not to environmental hazards. Additionally, it also has advantage on Stealth checks to hide in natural environments.
Shell. The Snapper can use its reaction to gain +5 AC until the start of its next turn.
Amphibious Breathing. The Snapper can breathe both on land and underwater.
Adaptability (2/Day). At the start of combat, the Snapper can choose to gain +3 AC or +3 to attack and damage rolls. The extra damage from Adaptability isn't affected by Damage Reduction.
Attacks
Bite. Melee Natural Weapon Attack, +6 to hit, 5 ft. reach, one target. On a hit, deals 19 (4d8+3) Piercing damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller creature, it becomes Grappled, and can use its action to make a DC 16 Athletics check to escape. Only one creature can be Grappled at a time, and the Snapper can't use its Bite until it releases the Grappled creature.
Claws. Melee Natural Weapon Attack, +6 to hit, 5 ft. reach, one target. On a hit, deals 23 (4d10+3) Slashing damage.
Epic Actions
The Snapper has 3 charges of epic actions, and can spend one of these charges to act. Only one action can be used at a time, at the end of another creature's turn. At the start of the Snapper's turn, the number of charges returns to 3
The Snapper can take an action and restore its reaction (if spent)
The Snapper can spend all or the rest of its movement
The Snapper can repeat a Saving Throw against an effect affecting it
Cost. When the Snapper repeats its saving throw this way, it loses 7 hit points.
Equipment and Loot
A creature with the Collector: Biologist Craft can Dissect the following parts of the Snapper:
Scales. A Snapper's Scales can be used to produce armor, with enough material to produce 2 Medium-sized Scale Mails or 1 Large-sized one.
Runes
Runic Pulse: Jade Pulse (1d6 Bludgeoning, Cold)
Runes: Immovable Body, 2 uses.