The Hodag for Shadowdark
The hodag is a creature of folklore and the subject of a famous hoax perpetrated by Wisconsinite Eugene Shepard in 1893. Here’s the hodag for Shadowdark. Enjoy!
Hodag
More than 10 feet long and at least four feet high at the shoulder. A visage that combines the features of a grinning man and a horned beast. Bony spikes down its spine. A hairless, rat-like tail. Sparse, brown hair covering its body. Powerful legs ending with clawed paws.
AC 14, HP 31, ATK 2 claws +3 (1d6) or gore +3 (1d8), MV double near, S +4, D +0, C +4, I -2, W +2, Ch -2, AL N, LV 6
Poor Climber. The hodag has disadvantage on climbing checks.
Charge. In place of attacks, move up to double near in a straight line and made one horn attack that inflicts 2d8 damage on up to two adjacent targets.
Tough Hide. Damage against a hodag from nonmagical slashing or piercing attacks is rolled with disadvantage.
Nota Bene: The first hodags — one male, the other female– were woodland carnivores incarnated from the pain and terror of abused animals. Their offspring, hatched from eggs, stalk forests to this day. It is wise to know that hodags are poor climbers.