Hydra
| Hydra
| Lernaean
| Pyrohydra
| Cryohydra
|
Climate/Terrain:
| Any swamp
| Any marsh,
| Any marsh,
| Any arctic or
|
|
| swamp or
subterranean
| swamp or
subterranean
| subterranean
|
Frequency:
| Uncommon
| Very rare
| Rare
| Very rare
|
Organization:
| Solitary
| Solitary
| Solitary
| Solitary
|
Activity Cycle:
| Any
| Any
| Any
| Any
|
Diet:
| Carnivore
| Carnivore
| Carnivore
| Carnivore
|
Intelligence:
| Semi- (2-4)
| Semi- (2-4)
| Semi- (2-4)
| Semi- (2-4)
|
Treasure:
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
|
Alignment:
| Neutral
| Neutral
| Neutral
| Neutral
|
No. Appearing:
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
Armor Class:
| 5
| 5
| 5
| 5
|
Movement:
| 9
| 9
| 9
| 9
|
Hit Dice:
| 5-12
| 5-12
| 7-8
| 5-8
|
THAC0:
| See below
| See below
| See below
| See below
|
No. of Attacks:
| 5-12
| 5-12
| 5-8
| 5-8
|
Damage/Attack:
| See below
| See below
| See below
| See below
|
Special Attacks:
| Nil
| Extra heads
| Fire
| Cold
|
Special Defenses:
| Nil
| Extra heads
| Nil
| Nil
|
Magic Resistance:
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
| Nil
|
Size:
| G (30' long)
| G (30' long)
| G (30' long)
| G (30' long)
|
Morale:
| Average
(8-10)
| Average
(8-10)
| Average
(8-10)
| Average
(8-10)
|
XP Value:
| 2,000
| 3,000
| 3,000
| 3,000
|
Heads
| THAC0
| Damage
| Heads
| THAC0
| Damage
|
5
| 15
| 1-6
| 9
| 12
| 1-8
|
6
| 13
| 1-6
| 10
| 10
| 1-8
|
7
| 13
| 1-8
| 11
| 10
| 1-10
|
8
| 12
| 1-8
| 12
| 9
| 1-10
|
Hydrae are immense reptilian monsters with multiple heads. For each Hit Die
the hydra has, it will have one head. The chart above lists the THAC0 value for
hydrae, the number of heads and the damage that they inflict each time they bite.
Hydrae are gray-brown to dark brown, with light yellow or tan underbellies.
Their eyes are amber and their teeth are yellow-white. Hydrae have between 5 and
12 heads (1d8 +4).
Combat: Hydrae always have 8 points on each of their Hit Dice and all heads must be
severed before the hydra dies. A hydra can bring up to four heads into action
against a single foe, biting once with each of them.
Each time a hydra takes 8 points of damage, one of its heads is assumed to
have been severed. When this happens, a natural reflex seals the neck arteries
shut to prevent blood loss.
Hydrae attack according to the number of heads they have. Therefore, a
10-headed hydra continues to attack as a 10 HD monster even after several heads have
been slain.
Attacks on the body have no effect unless a single attack inflicts damage
equal to the hydra's original hit points.
Habitat/Society: Hydrae are solitary creatures who prefer dismal surroundings. They gather only
to mate.
Ecology: Despite the hydra's size and multiple attacks, they are often preyed upon by
dragons. They are impossible to train.
Lernaean Hydra
Although similar to a normal hydra, Lernaean hydrae will regenerate two heads
for each one that is severed. A maximum of 12 heads can be grown. New heads
form in 1-4 rounds and can be avoided only by the prompt application of flame to
the neck following the attack which destroyed the first head. This hydra's body
is immune to all attacks.
Pyrohydra
These reddish hydra have 7 or 8 heads which are able to breathe a jet of fire
(5' wide and 2' long) twice per day. This attack does 8 points of damage,
halved if a save vs. breath weapon is made.
Cryohydra
Each head of this purplish-brown hydra is able to breathe a stream of frost 10
feet wide and 20 feet long which does 8 points of damage. A save vs. breath
weapon is allowed for half damage.