My DokuWiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
=== Major Planetary Zones | (Twin) Sections of the Habitual Belt | Regions | Wildlife===

====== BOGFANG (ZARU-DAK) ======

{{ :bogfang_gg_scenic_2d.png?200|}}

===== Overview =====
Called “Zaru-Dak” by the [[the_orlanda|Orlanda Tribe]], the Bogfang is an obligate-aquatic benthic disk predator of the [[orlanda_marshes|Orlanda Marshes]] on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]. It lies flat in root mazes and undercut banks, then surge-pounces to pin prey or braces at the shoreline to drag land animals into the water. The Orlanda regard a resident Bogfang as the quiet sentinel of sacred pools.

===== Physique and Appearance =====
  * **Length (disk + tail):** 1.2–1.4 m  
  * **Mass:** 40–50 kg  
  * **Body:** Dorso-ventrally flattened disk with broad fin-lobes for swimming; no hind walking limbs  
  * **Forelimbs:** Two anterior grasping arms only, each with five short keratin-tipped digits (claws) for anchoring to roots/stone and seizing shoreline prey; incapable of supporting body on land  
  * **Skin:** Velvety, matte peat-green to mud-brown with gritty dermal plaques that trap silt/algae (living-rock camouflage)  
  * **Head & Mouth:** Subterminal mouth facing downward; pharyngeal shearing plates (rasping hold rather than fangs)  
  * **Senses:** **High-set eyes** for peeking above silt; dorsal spiracular vents for breathing while the mouth is silt-sealed; lateral pressure pores detect wakes and footfalls  
  * **Tail:** Long, muscular tail with thin fin edge for steering and burst starts  
  * **Locomotion:** Undulates fin-lobes and tail to swim; cannot locomote on land (obligate aquatic)

==== Special Features: ====
  * **Shoreline Brace:** Uses its two forelimbs to hook roots/rocks and hold position in current; enables sudden arm-snatch on land prey at the water’s edge  
  * **Wing-Lobe Pin:** Broad fin-lobes press prey to substrate while the plates shear  
  * **Living-Rock Camouflage:** Gritty plaques hold silt and algae, breaking the outline among stones and roots  
  * **Spiracular Breathing:** Dorsal vents ventilate while buried; eyes watch from cover

===== Game Mechanics =====
  * **Armor Class (AC):** 14 (low profile + gritty plaques)  
  * **Hit Points (HP):** 45  
  * **Speed:** **40 ft. (swim)**; **0 ft. (land)**

==== Actions ====
  * **Surge Pounce (Recharge 5–6).** The Bogfang launches up to 20 ft. in a straight line underwater. If it ends adjacent to a creature, it makes Wing-Lobe Pin* with advantage.  
  * **Wing-Lobe Pin.** Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: d6+3 bludgeoning, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). While the Bogfang remains prone on the bottom, a grappled target is restrained.  
  * **Shearing Plates.** Melee Weapon Attack (vs. a grappled target): +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., Hit: 2d8+3 slashing.  
  * **Shoreline Yank.** Melee Weapon Attack (arms): +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. onto land from a water square. Hit: 1d8+3 bludgeoning and the target must succeed on a DC 14 STR save or be pulled up to 10 ft. into the water and knocked prone (submerged).  
  * **Silt Bloom (Recharge 4–6).** Kicks up a 10-ft-radius silt cloud. Creatures in the area must make a DC 13 Con save or be blinded until the start of their next turn. The area is lightly obscured for 1 minute unless dispersed.

==== Special Abilities ====
  * **Benthic Camouflage.** Advantage on Stealth checks when motionless on silt, stones, or among roots.  
  * **Pressure Sense.** While submerged, the Bogfang has blindsight 20 ft. against moving creatures.  
  * **Bank Brace.** While adjacent to a solid bank/root, the Bogfang has advantage on checks to resist being moved and may target creatures on land within 5 ft. with Shoreline Yank.  
  * **Obligate Aquatic.** Land speed 0; if forced fully onto land, the Bogfang is knocked prone and has disadvantage on all attacks until it re-enters water.

===== Behavior =====
  * **Diet:** Small fish, amphibians, large invertebrates, shoreline mammals/birds when available  
  * **Social:** Solitary except brief spawning aggregations  
  * **Activity:** Crepuscular/nocturnal peaks; day spent buried or wedged under shelves

==== Survival Strategies: ====
  * **Stone-Still Ambush:** Lies flat, gathers silt, watches with high-set eyes  
  * **Brace-and-Snatch:** Hooks forelimbs under roots, then lashes out to yank shoreline prey into the water  
  * **Wrap-and-Shear:** Uses fin-lobes to pin while shearing plates do the killing work  
  * **Silt Screen:** Deploys **Silt Bloom** to break line-of-sight for escape or reposition

===== Reproduction and Lifecycle =====
  * **Mating Season:** Wettest marsh cycles; brief nocturnal aggregations on shallow shelves  
  * **Egg Deposition:** Adhesive clutches tucked beneath root lips and ledges  
  * **Incubation:** ~2 weeks; hatchlings disperse into micro-channels and leaf packs  
  * **Lifespan:** 15–20 years (est.)

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====
  * **Edge Ambush:** Any creature **looting the bank**, watering mounts, or following root paths within 5 ft. of water risks a Shoreline Yank.  
  * **Sacred Pool Clause:** Orlanda rites may forbid harming a resident Bogfang; parties must solve the pool non-violently (lures, distractions, offerings).  
  * **Environmental Tells:** A clean oval in settled silt or a sudden silt boil under an overhang foreshadows Zaru-Dak.

===== Related Pages =====
  * [[orlanda_marshes|Orlanda Marshes]]  
  * [[the_orlanda|Orlanda Tribe]]  
  * [[wildlife_of_asari|Wildlife of Asari]]

**Known Predators:**  
  * [[kardar|Kardar]] (targets juveniles)