Wind crawler
The wind crawler is a venomous viped native to the Old Windswept and Stormlands areas of the Desert of Kalir. It is easily recognized by its two long, clawed arms with wing membranes between them and its body. There are several subspecies adapted to the different biomes within the desert, the two most common being the sandstone wind crawler and the mountain wind crawler.
Starting from around one fourth to one fifth of the total body length down from the head are two arms ending in a hand with five curved claws, each from 1 to 5 centimeters long. Going from the wrists of the arms down to just below the mid-section of the body are wing membranes. This creates a wingspan of about three fourths of the total body length. From around one fourth to one fifth of the body length starting from the tail one can find a pair of fins.
The color patterns of the wind crawlers varies between subspecies, and is the easiest way to tell one subspecies from another. The sandstone variety has mild earth tones on its scales to blend in with the environment it is named after. Its wing membranes range from a light yellow to a rich orange color. The mountain variety usually has tones of blue and gray to blend in with its native environment in the western mountains of the Desert of Kalir.
Some variants of the wind crawler possess two horns, both found directly above their eyes. The horns, like their fangs, are capable of delivering venom.
In the northern parts of the desert, where the wind is strong enough to literally pull the land apart, the wind crawler spreads their wing membranes and practically fly. They use the fin on their lower body to steer themselves, giving them a 30 degree window of maneuverability side to side from the wind direction. Given the lack of a strong upward or downward draft, they are able to ascend and descend at will as long as there is a presence of wind.
With sparse life in the desert, the wind crawlers use their flying abilities to hunt or to find new hunting grounds, and my stay airborne for several days at a time. Swooping in with their venomous fangs from above and grabbing their prey with their sharp claws, they are known to attack tiny creatures like mice, but also even creatures as large as antelopes. Though generally not considered aggressive towards people, it may attack any target when desperate and hungry.
Description
A full grown male varies from 40 to 60 centimeters in length, while the female tends to be 5 centimeters longer on average.Starting from around one fourth to one fifth of the total body length down from the head are two arms ending in a hand with five curved claws, each from 1 to 5 centimeters long. Going from the wrists of the arms down to just below the mid-section of the body are wing membranes. This creates a wingspan of about three fourths of the total body length. From around one fourth to one fifth of the body length starting from the tail one can find a pair of fins.
The color patterns of the wind crawlers varies between subspecies, and is the easiest way to tell one subspecies from another. The sandstone variety has mild earth tones on its scales to blend in with the environment it is named after. Its wing membranes range from a light yellow to a rich orange color. The mountain variety usually has tones of blue and gray to blend in with its native environment in the western mountains of the Desert of Kalir.
Some variants of the wind crawler possess two horns, both found directly above their eyes. The horns, like their fangs, are capable of delivering venom.
Behavior
They typically move by pulling themselves forward using their clawed arms, sidewinding with they lower body as they go. Some subspecies, particularly those living in mountainous areas are known to climb sheer surfaces using their claws.In the northern parts of the desert, where the wind is strong enough to literally pull the land apart, the wind crawler spreads their wing membranes and practically fly. They use the fin on their lower body to steer themselves, giving them a 30 degree window of maneuverability side to side from the wind direction. Given the lack of a strong upward or downward draft, they are able to ascend and descend at will as long as there is a presence of wind.
With sparse life in the desert, the wind crawlers use their flying abilities to hunt or to find new hunting grounds, and my stay airborne for several days at a time. Swooping in with their venomous fangs from above and grabbing their prey with their sharp claws, they are known to attack tiny creatures like mice, but also even creatures as large as antelopes. Though generally not considered aggressive towards people, it may attack any target when desperate and hungry.
Attributes
Wind Crawler
Tiny beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 10 3d4+3
Speed:
25 ft.
, fly: 60 ft.
, climb: 10 ft.
STR
5 -3
DEX
20 +5
CON
12 +1
INT
2 -4
WIS
10 +0
CHA
3 -4
Damage Resistances: Poison
Senses: Tremorsense 20 ft., passive perception 10
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: (1d4) piercing damage plus (2d6)poison damage. The target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking the poison damage and become poisoned on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Wind Crawler
Above: A wind crawler catching the winds in the Old Windswept region of the Desert of Kalir.
Below: Sandstone wind crawler skin pattern and colors.
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