RIDING LIZARD – 5e stats

Huge beast (giant animal), unaligned

Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
Hit Points 42 (5d12 + 10)
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	6 (-2)	14 (+2)	5 (-3)

Skills Athletics +8, Perception +4
Condition Immunities poisoned
Damage Immunities poison
Damage Resistances fire
Damage Vulnerabilities cold
Senses darkvision 180 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages –
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Regeneration. The riding lizard regenerates 1 hit point per hour.

Spider Climb. The riding lizard can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The riding lizard makes three attacks, one with its bite and two with its hind legs.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d4 + 6) piercing damage.
• Hind Legs. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage. the target must make a DC 16 Strength check of be knocked prone.

DESCRIPTION

A riding lizard is a large, sleek reptile that can be used as a mount or a pack animal. It has a long, muscular tail that makes up half of its body length, and four splayed legs with sticky pads that allow it to cling to any surface. Its head is triangular, with a powerful jaw and sharp teeth. Its scales are usually dark brown or black, but some varieties have different colors or patterns. A riding lizard can grow up to 22 feet long and weigh up to 800 pounds.

Riding lizards are light, agile creatures, able to run swiftly on their hind legs when unencumbered. They are unknown on the surface, where they would be blinded by the sun, but they take the place of the horse as the general steed of intelligent races in the Underdark. They can leap up to 30 feet upwards and 50 feet horizontally, and descend up to 80 feet without harm. They can also scale stone as easily as a spider, using their adhesive feet to traverse walls, ceilings, stalactites, and stalagmites.

COMBAT

A riding lizard is not a very aggressive creature, but it will defend itself and its rider if threatened. It can bite, kick, and leap at its enemies, using its tail for balance and support. It has an immunity to most poisons and fungal spores, thanks to its omnivorous diet. It also has infravision, which allows it to see in the dark.

Riding lizards are darting, alert beasts who hunt prey aggressively when in the wild, preferring small snakes, centipedes, insects, arachnids, fungi, and small animals. They can also scavenge carrion or garbage if food is scarce. They use their leaps and their ability to cling to any solid surface that they strike to cross uncrossable chasms or to reach remote rock ledges where prey lairs.

A riding lizard can be trained to obey simple commands and follow its rider’s cues, but it requires a special harness and saddle to be ridden safely. Most drow communities capture lizards only to acquire new bloodlines; they breed and raise their lizard stock from previously-captured sires. They often use magic to make them more obedient and fearless.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

A riding lizard is a native of the Underdark, where it lives in large, loose packs that roam the caverns and tunnels. It prefers to travel on the walls and ceilings, avoiding the dangers of the ground. It mates often, but does not form family bonds. The strongest members of the pack act as guardians for the others, especially the pregnant females. A riding lizard can live up to 20 years in the wild.

A riding lizard is a valuable commodity, where it is used by many races as a mount or a pack animal. The dark elves are particularly fond of riding lizards, and sometimes worship them as sacred animals. Lizardfolk also keep them as pets and allies. Other races, such as duergar, svirfneblin, orcs, and goblins, also use riding lizards for transportation or trade.

ECOLOGY

A riding lizard has few natural predators, but it can fall prey to larger or more cunning creatures, such as hook horrors, umber hulks, or beholders. It can also be hunted by humanoids for its meat, hide, or bones. A riding lizard’s hide can be used to make leather armor or clothing, and its bones can be carved into weapons or tools.

Eaten by many predators, riding lizard meat is a staple of duergar diet. Drow only eat those that perish through misfortune.

Riding Lizards can be used as mounts or pulling animals for vehicles.