Tidal Blades
Ironback crabs are slower and thicker than mudcrabs, with carapaces that are nearly impossible to pierce. Most Navirians know that the best way to defeat an ironback crab is to knock it onto its back, exposing its softer belly and rendering it almost helpless while it attempts to get back on its feet.
Flipping a crab onto its back to expose its belly is a Might-based action equal to the crab's level. Hooks provide an asset to this task.
In some small circles, their meat is considered a delicacy, but most people find it too bitter for their taste.
Unlike some of the other crabs, ironbacks are known for being clever, resourceful, and unrelenting. They may be slow, but once they set their sights on something, they won't stop until they get it.
During the months of Sornrest and Cerul, ironback crabs typically care for their young. Baby ironbacks cling to their parents' softer undersides almost constantly until they're at least a foot across and their carapaces harden, at which point they begin to drop off and wander away.
While they're tending their young, ironbacks are even more aggressive than usual, and flipping them on their backs is a great way to get swarmed by a bunch of juvenile crabs and whatever nearby parent isn't currently upside down.
Ironback crabs molt twice a year, but they grow a second shell beneath the first so that when they lose their top shell, they are still protected.
Motive: Hungers for flesh, defense
Environment: Beaches
Health: 28
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (7 points)
Armor: 4 (body) and 0 (belly)
Movement: Short
Modifications: Speed defense as level 5 due to size and speed; all tasks involving balance as level 5; sneaking and surprise as level 4 due to size and sound
Combat: An ironback attack is a one-two combination of grab and gobble. As a single action, they can grasp a foe in one large, jagged claw, then stuff that foe in their mouth to bite down. A claw grab inflicts a moderate wound (7 points), and their bite knocks the character one step down the damage track. A grabbed character must succeed at a Speed defense task or be crammed into the crab's mouth. Characters must then succeed on a level 7 Might task to avoid being chewed on.
Ironback crabs sometimes set up simple traps in the sand and wait for victims to fall into their claws, so to speak. These traps are often deep holes that the ironback digs into the sand and covers with a cracked piece of carapace or long ropes of seaweed. Alternatively, they may push debris from a wrecked watercraft or building into a position to trap a curious creature.
Interaction: Ironback crabs are only interested in feeding and fighting.
Use: It's rare that an ironback crab will surprise a group of explorers; their large size and the rattling sound of their carapace mean it's easy to notice them coming. More likely, one or more characters will fall into a trap, making them easy prey for the ironback.
Loot: A couple of ironback carapaces can be used to craft a simple piece of armor or a weapon.