Agrutha

An agrutha is a lizard man swollen to nearly 8 feet of muscle. It keeps the snout, heavy jaws, thick scales and lashing tail of its alligator forebears, standing on stubby legs with long, apelike arms. They go unclothed, holding nothing beyond what the moment requires.

They love ambush, sinking in muddy water up to the eyes and passing for logs or ordinary gators. Usually sluggish, they can lunge in a sudden burst, so they often surprise anyone not watching for them. Enraged or denied an ambush, they charge into the middle of the enemy, bellowing nonstop.

Fists and a crushing bite are their weapons, plus a 1-10 tail sweep when attacked from behind or given space. Some wield homemade clubs and spears or better arms taken from victims. A natural 18/76 Strength adds +2 to hit and +4 damage with weapons.

Seven or more agrutha include an alpha with 18/00 Strength and maximum hit points, armed 75% of the time. Such a tribe has a 25% chance of a shaman, typically of 1st or 2nd level, never past 3rd unless a player character.

Loose tribes claim lakes or riverbeds in the deepest swamps, ruled by the biggest, strongest member, though most hunt alone or in pairs. Each year a female lays 2-3 eggs in a mud pit lined with reeds and branches, staying put while males hunt and gaining +2 to attack and damage when defending it.

They mix more readily with common lizard folk than any other sub-species does, often sharing territory and hunting duties, and lizard kings prize them as berserk shock troops.

They eat whatever comes near, humans included, mostly deer, fish and bears, but raid settlements only when other lizard folk goad them.