Chormen
This solitary, sightless swamp dweller is driven by instinct alone. It has evolved a strategy that brings its victim to it. What appears to be a solid hummock in the swamp is actually the back of the beast. Its dorsal ridge is covered with appendages that resemble local plant life and rock. The underside of the Chormen is spiked with irregular shaped protrusions of bone. The front appendages are powerfully muscled, with webbed claws with 200 pounds per square inch crush strength each. The rear appendage is a flat rudder style tail similar in shape and function to a beaver. The jaws are alligator like, with a 500-pound per square inch bite strength, however a simple rope noose can keep it from opening its mouth. A mature Chormen averages 10 to 15 feet in length and 500 to 1,000 pounds.
The creature simply floats on the surface and waits for the pressure of a passing foot on its back. Once the Chormen detects a victim, it throws itself into a thrashing roll dumping the animal or adventurer in the water. Latching onto the body in the water with the claws it ‘hugs’ the victim to its underside, impaling it on the bony spikes. Once the victim’s struggle ceases, the Chormen returns to its lair. The lair is partially lined with broken branches. The victim is clawed loose from the belly spikes and wedged into the branches for storage and access. The beast feeds by ripping chunks from the carcass. It will not take another victim until the one in the lair is either completely eaten or ‘lost’ to some of the smaller denizens of the swamp.
For additional information on Chomen please see the Mystic Station Designs, LLC SkillSkape book entitled
“The Book of Creatures Volume One”
