Lost Company Press
This monstrous nocturnal predator has a wingspan that can stretch up to twenty feet, with leathery wings and sharp fangs dripping with venom. Its eyes reflect the moonlight, giving it an eerie glow as it screeches through the night sky. The eerie silhouette of the bat is often the last thing its prey sees, as it swoops down silently to snatch and carry off its victims.
Motive: Seeks warm-blooded prey to feed on
Environment: Dark caverns, ancient forests, and abandoned ruins (Underground)
Health: 3
Damage: 1 point
Armor: 1
Movement: Immediate when flying; Short otherwise
Modifications: Stealth as level 2 when flying in darkness; Perception as level 5 in darkness, as level 1 in daylight; Speed defense as level 2 due to agile flying
Combat: In combat, the bat uses its Echoing Screech to disorient its prey, causing them to lose a turn if they fail a difficulty 4 Intellect defense roll. The bat can then attack with its venomous bite, which inflicts a moderate wound (5 points) and requires the victim to succeed on a Might defense roll or become poisoned, taking 2 additional points of damage for three rounds or until treated. Lifesap Embrace: On a successful grab with its claws, the bat latches onto its prey and begins to drain its life force. The victim must make a Might defense roll each round or take 3 additional points of damage as the bat continues to feed. Vampiric Healing: For every 5 points of damage the bat deals with its bite, it heals 2 points of damage.
Interactions: The bat tends to avoid any creatures larger than itself unless provoked or extremely hungry. It communicates with clicks and screeches, potentially responding to similar sounds or echolocation.
Uses: A colony of bats could pose a threat to nearby settlements, stealing livestock or even unwary travelers. Alternatively, their guano could be a sought-after material for powerful alchemical concoctions.
GM Intrusion: As a character is targeted by the bat, it deftly snatches an item from their person, perhaps a weapon or a piece of valuable equipment, and carries it high into the air, dropping it in a difficult to reach location.