Dragonfish

A dragonfish is a broad, flattened fish armored in heavy mottled brown scales, which give it a low Armor Class. Three to five rows of sharp spines, each about two inches long, run down its back, and together with the scales they give its hide a passing likeness to a dragon. The resemblance stops there: this is a timid scavenger that wants only to eat and survive.

Lying on the muddy, rocky bottom of a shallow pool or lazy stream, the fish is almost invisible. Even searchers who know exactly what they want have only a 15% chance to pick one out, and its habit of moving about at night makes the job harder still.

Most run-ins are accidents: a traveler wades across and puts a foot down in the wrong place. A provoked dragonfish delivers a 1-6 point bite, but the spines are the real hazard. They pierce leather boots, break off and stay lodged in the flesh. Anyone who steps on or grabs the fish takes 1-6 spines at 1 point of damage apiece.

Far worse is the slow venom they carry. For four hours the victim burns with fever and growing nausea, suffering a further -1 on attacks and saving throws with every hour that passes, reaching -4 at the end. Because these are also the signs of a fatal dose, nobody can tell whether the victim will live until the fourth hour is over. Only then does he roll a save vs. poison, at the full -4. Failure means death in 1-4 turns. Success means survival, though the victim still fights at -2 to attack for another 1d12 hours.

However many spines strike at once, only one save is required. A slow poison cast during the four-hour onset halts the growing penalties for a while, and neutralize poison removes the toxin entirely.

Dragonfish keep to the bottoms of shallow fresh water, eating slow snails, minnows and any carrion that settles near them. They will gulp almost anything that fits, coins and rings included, but their stomach acid is so strong that swallowed valuables rarely come out intact.

They do not defend territory, though one will guard a food source it has found. Parents leave their young the moment they are born and will happily eat any small dragonfish they meet later, which keeps their numbers in check.

Thinking races have found plenty of uses for the fish. A grown adult holds enough venom to kill many creatures, so poisoners commonly have a tested technique for catching them. The spines make strong, wickedly sharp darts and regrow after harvesting, and the scaly hide works well as scale armor. Any of these uses is risky unless the venom sacs and spines are carefully removed first.