Thessalmeras were one of the four known thessalmonsters, a species of crossbred hybrid creatures. A thessalmera was the result of crossbreeding a thessalhydra and a chimera.[3]
Description[]
Thessalmeras had a large, reptilian body with a long tail which ended in a pair of large, sharp pincers. It's head was that of a lion, surrounded by a ring of between six to eight hydra-like heads. A second head, that of a small red dragon, was found just below the ring of serpentine heads, on the upper back.[3]
Abilities[]
The dragon head was capable of breathing a cone of fire. The cone of fire covered an area up to 50 feet (15 meters) wide at the widest point, with a range of up to 20 feet (6.1 meters). Thessalmeras had a natrual resistance to fire and were immune to acid and any petrification effects and spells.[3]
Combat[]
Each serpentine head of a thessalmera acted independently and injected a target with poison for every bite. Its lion and dragon head had powerful jaws, capable of crushing armor. It used it's pincer to grasp a target and drag them closer to its many mouths.[3]
Ecology[]
The primary head, controlling the thessalmera and containing its intelligence, was the lion head. If the lion head was fataly damaged, the dragon head acted as a backup head. If somehow both the lion and dragon heads were destroyed, the injured thessalmera became a semi-sentient and went into a berserk-like state, killing everything around it. It then retreated to its lair, remaining there until both the lion and dragon heads regrew.[3]
Diet[]
Thessalmeras were a carnivorous species. It preyed upon the livestock of human settlements, as well as the residents. It's favorite meal was the meat from a freshly killed human.[3]
Habitats[]
Thessalmeras were typically found in jungles and swamps, often living near human settlements.[3]
In Northwest Faerûn, some were known to dwell within the Mere of Dead Men.[4] Beyond Faerûn, some were known to be found in the land of Chult.[5]
Uses[]
Juvenile thessalmeras were sometimes used as guards. Thessalmera eggs were worth up to 8,000 gp and a live juvenile up to 12,000 gp.[3]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (November 1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 58. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (February 1985). “The Ecology of the Chimera”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #94 (TSR, Inc.), p. 25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 David Cook, Steve Winter, and Jon Pickens (November 1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Three Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC3). (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 0-88038-769-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Sean K. Reynolds (May 1999). “Wyrms of the North: Voaraghamanthar, "the Black Death"”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #258 (TSR, Inc.).
- ↑ James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.