Carpet-Tongued Turtle

There are no notable rivers that course through the Oakwood, with the exception of the Blackwater in the west. But the forest's position on a long ridge of high ground means there are quite a few small rivulets and streams that form within its borders and flow out either north or south. It is along the banks of these woodland streams that one of the stranger abominations of the Oakwood chooses to dwell: the Carpet-Tongued Turtle.

These creatures can grow quite substantially; the largest specimen observed in the wild had a shell with a diameter of 23ft (7m). These shells, which are nearly flat and have slightly upturned edges, provide the beasts with the ultimate camouflage. They actually gather soil and natural forest compost on their back, allowing seedlings and variety of small plants found near streams to actually grow on their backs. To hunt, the creatures lie in wait - usually near a stream where other creatures seek water. The turtle then extends its unusually long, flat tongues across the ground before them, and waits. The length of the tongue of one of these beasts is typically 1.5 times the diameter of their shell.

The tongues are colored and textured to resemble the forest floor as well. Any unsuspecting creature that steps on the tongue will trigger the creature to respond. The tongue immediately and rapidly begins to roll up from the tip. Small prey are quickly enveloped in the rolling tongue and brought to the turtle's large, deadly jaws. Larger creatures - including unsuspecting Folk that have the misfortune of triggering an attack - will find their leg tightly wrapped as the retracting tongue begins to drag them toward the powerful jaws.

Name

Carpet-Tongued Turtle

Alternate Name/Nickname

Tripping Turtle

Type

Beast

Size

Large

Speed

10ft

Habitat

Uncommon: Oakwood Forest

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Gamemaster Notes

Unless the path is being scouted by someone with the Survival Acquired Specialty and specific knowledge of Oakwood threats, any party approaching a stream being stalked by a carpet-tongued turtle will invariably trigger an attack. Roll randomly to determine which member of the party is the unlucky one that steps on the tongue. (The roll for an appropriate scout to detect the creature in advance is a DC16 AWA check.)

Tiny creatures can be enveloped by the tongues of any carpet-tongued creatures. They are rapidly rolled into the mouth of the creature and swallowed whole. If the beast's shell is 15' or larger, Small creatures can also be enveloped and swallowed whole. Otherwise, creatures are ensnared by the tongues and dragged toward the creature's jaws, which will clamp down as soon as the tongue itself is clear of them. Such victims are dragged at a rate of 5ft per round.

The tongue of the creatures are not armored, and can be severed if 6 points of damage can be inflicted on them. Doing so will cause the creature to rise up and move to attack with its jaw - though the beast is quite slow. A severed tongue can be regrown by a turtle in about a week.
Laurels & Loot Statblock

Stamina Points: 48
Injury Points: 8
Armor: 3

Bite: 2d8

Credits

Side Panel Image by Dorothe from Pixabay
Banner Image from Pixabay (No creator cited there!)