Tatzlwyrm

Tatzlwyrm

(Creature)

Type

Dragon

CR

2

Environment

Any forest

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Images of tatzlwyrms

Source: Bestiary 3, pg(s). 261

A tatzlwyrm (pronounced TATZ-el-werm) is a small, wingless cousin of the larger true dragon. Tatzlwyrms slither through the upper foliage of the forest, attempting to wrap themselves around their victims from above.

Appearance

Tatzlwyrms are serpentine, green-scaled dragonkind, about 12 to 14 feet long from nose to tail tip, and weigh 400 pounds. Each of these creatures has a row of long spines running along its back from head to tail, as well as scaly dewlaps at its throat. Tatzlwyrms reach adult size after six months and can survive as long as 20 or 30 years in the wild.

A cousin to larger dragons, these wyrms have two arms, with claws at the end of each hand allowing them to easily climb trees. A long, powerful, and flexible tail extends beyond these arms. A tatzlwyrm's head rests above the arms, exuding poisonous misty green breath.

Habitat and ecology

Tatzlwyrms come in many colors and variations.

There are different breeds of tatzlwyrm in the world, each attracted to older sites in its preferred habitat. Tatzlwyrms live in the deepest forests, mountains, and even underground.

Ferocious, yet cunning, tatzlwyrms lie in wait for their prey, eating anything from rabbits to deer to men after catching them by surprise. After their meals, these beasts often collect leftover inedible parts, amassing small hordes of bones and sometimes even valuable equipment, a small remnant to the great hordes of their true dragon ancestors. Instead of a powerful breath weapon, tatzlwyrms produce a slight green poisonous mist that affects the victim on contact.

These creatures are more primitive than dragons, having split from the evolutionary tree before the development of the true dragons. They can only understand a limited amount of Draconic, but are cunning enough to construct relatively elaborate, trap-filled lairs.

Strict carnivores, they are good at ambushes and traps, often luring prey with fruit or game carcasses before attacking from a hidden position.

Tatzlwyrms can be quite territorial.

Too lazy to burrow or build elaborate lairs, tatzlwyrms nest in natural hollows such as caves or rotten trees.

During mating season, male and female tatzlwyrms nest together as the female gestates eggs for a month. The hatchlings stay in the nest for several months before they are expelled, and the adult pair usually breaks up violently. These violent, relentless killers often slay one another following mating, which usually results in only one to three surviving young.

Although most tatzlwyrms breed in deep forests, a few prefer volcanoes and have a natural resistance to fire.

On Golarion

• Living in Wolfrun Hills, the wyrm known as Claw-eye is exceptionally aggressive, even for its kind. This is believed to be from a wound caused from a dragon or wyvern claw he took to the eye, which has since healed over.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.