Tundra Lizard

This warm-blooded reptile is armored in thick, leathery plates. In winter its back and legs are white and its belly pale green; where summer melts the snow it turns blotchy brown and white. It is 95% undetectable to ordinary observers, though rangers and natives of arctic or subarctic lands get a 20% bonus to spot one. A long snout digs into mouse and rabbit burrows and long claws tear open dens. It is quick and agile, with short tail, long muscular legs, a dog's sense of smell and silver almond eyes with 60-foot infravision. Males are bigger and carry a row of small spikes down the spine.

The lizard survives by stealing warmth from mammals. It stalks prey patiently across snowfields and mountains, then releases a lavender-sweet scent that puts every air-breathing creature within 10 feet to sleep (save at -2), up to four times a day. Absorbing heat requires touch and two rounds of stillness (at half speed if forced to move), and costs the victim 1d3 hit points plus a point of Constitution. Lost Constitution recovers weekly, a point at a time, while the hit points heal normally or with any cure spell or potion.

It needs at least 4 Constitution and 4 hit points a day, sometimes all from one victim. Falling short leaves it shivering and sluggish, and after three days without feeding it freezes solid and dies, hence its name.

It avoids creatures larger than itself unless cornered, preferring to trip and flee: resolved as a called shot vs. AC 10 before Dexterity and magic adjustments, that costs the victim a round to stand. Trapped, it fights savagely with claws and teeth.

Solitary and territorial, it covers vast distances, hunting mainly by day but sometimes at night, and semi-hibernates through winter. Pairs mate in early autumn; the female digs a rock-hidden den and bears 3-4 live young in spring. The male leaves after a month, and the mother feeds the young on regurgitated food, never bringing kills home. Young leave at eight months, and the species lives 10-15 years.

It eats almost anything, including refuse and other hunters' kills, but never rotten or poisoned meat, and it culls the old and sick rather than overhunting. Few predators attack it, since its hide is tough and its sleep sacs rupture when eaten, leaving the diner helpless in a land where sleepers become meals. Armorers shape the stiff hide into breastplates, shoulder guards and small shields, though it is useless for clothing. Alchemists turn the sacs into powerful sleep potions, and some schemers give a tundra lizard as a 'gift' to quietly weaken or kill a rival.