Tavern Tidbits - Monster Madness - Pyro-Hydra (SWCL & SWC)

Pyro-Hydra - Statted for Swords & Wizardry Light/Continual Light and Swords & Wizardry Complete. Based on the entry for the Hyrda in Monstrosities for Swords & Wizardry Complete.

Pyro Hydras are theorized to be the result of magically crossbreeding a red dragon with a hydra. As such, they have multiple heads that can breathe fire much like a red dragon. On any given round, roll 1d6 per head. On a 5 or 6, that head breathes fire instead of attempting to bite. Breath attacks are aimed at one target and that target must save vs breath weapon or suffer 2d6 damage (No attack roll is needed by the Pyro Hydra. Target no damage with a successful save.) Pyro Hydras are extremely dangerous adversaries.

Like a standard hydra, each head has one hit die of its own, and when an individual head takes damage equal to the rolled hit die, that head dies. The body has as many hit dice as the total of the heads, so it is a matter of good strategy for adventurers to focus either on killing heads (when all the heads are dead the body dies) or killing the creature by attacking the body (in which case the heads die, too)

Note, weapons that do special damage to reptiles or dragons are effective against Pyro Hydras.

(for SWCL, ignore AL / CL and XP entries)

Hydra (5 headed): HD 5; AC 5[14]; Atk 5 heads (1d6); Move 9;  Save 12
AL N; CL/XP 7/800; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (6 headed): HD 6; AC 5[14]; Atk 6 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 11
AL N; CL/XP 8/1100; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (7 headed): HD 7; AC 5[14]; Atk 7 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 9
AL N; CL/XP 9/1400; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (8 headed): HD 8; AC 5[14]; Atk 8 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 8
AL N; CL/XP 10/1700; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (9 headed): HD 9; AC 5[14]; Atk 9 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 6
AL N; CL/XP 11/2000; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (10 headed): HD 10; AC 5[14]; Atk 10 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 5
AL N; CL/XP 12/2300; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (11 headed): HD 11; AC 5[14]; Atk 11 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 4
AL N; CL/XP 13/2600; Special: Breathes Fire

Hydra (12 headed): HD 12; AC 5[14]; Atk 12 heads (1d6); Move 9; Save 3
AL N; CL/XP 14/2900; Special: Breathes Fire

Artwork copyright Daniel F. Walthall, used with permission.

OGL