Monster Week at the Near TPK - the Bandersnatch

I don't know why I think this creature leaped out of a Lewis Carroll poem. I just do.

Another day or so remains to throw out some thoughts on the current "what the heck is that?" monster. I plan to post a fully statted version Thursday. I hope "What the heck is that?" gets enough response to be worth making it a weekly feature around here, so if you like it, go comment on it.

Bandersnatch

Bandersnatches are fearsome beasts shunned by beamish boys. They lurk in dark forests, ready to snatch and eat bankers and other travelers.

Level 2 Soldier

Fuming Bandersnatch

XP 125

Medium natural beast (reptile)

Initiative +5 Senses Perception +7
HP 40; Bloodied 20
AC 18; Fortitude 16, Reflex 14, Will 13
Speed 8 (10 while charging)

mBite (standard; at-will)

+9 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the end of the fuming bandersnatch’s next turn.

MTail Sting (standard; at-will)

+9 vs. AC; 1d6 + 4 damage, and the fuming bandersnatch makes a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack: +7 vs. Fortitude; the target takes ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).

MExtended Bite (standard; recharge 6)

Reach 2; +9 vs. AC; 2d8 + 4 damage, and the target is marked until the end of the fuming bandersnatch’s next turn.

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Perception +7
Str 18 (+5) Dex 15 (+3) Wis 12 (+2)
Con 16 (+4) Int 3 (-3) Cha 12 (+2)

Fuming Bandersnatch Tactics

Fuming bandersnatches charge fearlessly into combat, trying to reach and bite their weakest enemies with extended bite as often as possible.

Level 8 Skirmisher

Furious Bandersnatch

XP 350

Large natural beast (reptile)

Initiative +11 Senses Perception +11
HP 90; Bloodied 45
AC 23; Fortitude 21, Reflex 22, Will 19
Speed 8 (10 while charging)

mBite (standard; at-will)

+13 vs. AC; 2d8 + 4 damage.

MTail Sting (standard; at-will)

Reach 2; +13 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the furious bandersnatch makes a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack: +11 vs. Fortitude; the target takes ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).

MExtended Bite (standard; recharge 5 6)

Reach 3; +13 vs. AC; 3d8 + 4 damage.

CFurious Bite (free, when first bloodied; encounter)

Close burst 2; targets enemies; +11 vs. AC; 2d8 + 4 damage.

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Perception +11
Str 18 (+8) Dex 20 (+9) Wis 15 (+6)
Con 18 (+8) Int 3 (+0) Cha 12 (+5)

Furious Bandersnatch Tactics

Furious bandersnatches charge fearlessly into combat, trying to reach and bite their weakest enemies with extended bite as often as possible.

Level 12 Elite Skirmisher

Frumious Bandersnatch

XP 1,400

Huge natural beast (reptile)

Initiative +14 Senses Perception +11
HP 248; Bloodied 124
AC 29; Fortitude 25, Reflex 28, Will 21
Saving Throws +2
Speed 8 (10 while charging)
Action Points 1

mBite (standard; at-will)

Reach 2; +17 vs. AC; 3d6 + 4 damage.

MTail Sting (standard; at-will)

Reach 3; +17 vs. AC; 1d8 + 4 damage, and the frumious bandersnatch makes a secondary attack against the same target. Secondary Attack: +15 vs. Fortitude; the target takes ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).

MFrenzy (standard; at-will)

The frumious bandersnatch makes a bite and tail sting attack.

MExtended Bite (standard; recharge 5 6)

Reach 4; +17 vs. AC; 4d6 + 4 damage.

CFrumious Bite (free, when first bloodied; encounter)

Close burst 3; targets enemies; +15 vs. AC; 3d6 + 4 damage.

MTail Strike (immediate reaction, when an enemy moves to a position where it flanks the frumious bandersnatch; at-will)

Make a tail sting attack against that enemy.

Alignment Unaligned Languages -
Skills Perception +14
Str 18 (+10) Dex 22 (+12) Wis 16 (+9)
Con 20 (+11) Int 3 (+2) Cha 12 (+7)

Frumious Bandersnatch Tactics

Frumious bandersnatches charge fearlessly into combat, trying to reach and bite their weakest enemies with extended bite as often as possible, and using frenzy until it recharges.

Bandersnatch Lore

A character knows the following information with a successful Nature check.
DC 15: Bandersnatches are fast-moving predators with snapping jaws and necks that can extend to help them grab prey.
DC 20: The frumious bandersnatch fights by thrashing wildly with its bite and poisonous stinger. The stinger is used to defend against anyone trying to surround it.

Encounter Groups

An indiscriminate predator, a frumious bandersnatch hunts alone or with another of its kind. No creature is safe in a bandersnatch’s hunting grounds.
Some powerful evil humanoid races capture and train bandersnatches, though the creatures must be raised from birth to accept a master.
Level 10 Encounter (XP 2,600)
* 1 furious bandersnatch (level 8 skirmisher)
* 1 ogre warhulk (level 11 elite brute)
* 3 ogre savages (level 8 brute)
Level 12 Encounter (XP 3,500)
* 2 frumious bandersnatches (level 12 elite skirmisher)
* 1 feygrove choker (level 12 lurker)

Whew. Three variants. 'Twas brillig.