Asherons Call: Creature Feature: The Amoredillo

Despite their formidable capabilities in battle, Armoredillos are largely benign lizards often seen trundling along dunes and prairies. While most prefer arid climates, such as deserts and tundra, some breeds live along coastlines and rivers, and one rare breed has been rumored to live in the frigid cold of the islands the Viamontians claim for their home upon Dereth (although, like all rumors, this creature has yet been proven to exist).

The dim, beady eyes of an Armoredillo are an excellent indicator of its meager intelligence. They often do not notice-or simply ignore-interlopers until disturbed from their otherwise quiet grazing. Despite their peaceable nature (Armoredillos are herbivores, able to shovel entire shrubs into their cavernous mouths) they are quite fearsome when provoked. When pressed, Armoredillos will turn and attack; the more wild an Armoredillo, the more "personal space" it desires.

Once engaged, Armoredillos can make for extremely challenging combat. Their backs are covered with a hard carapace studded with bony protrusions and crested with foot-long blades. However, the Armoredillo does not rely on its defensive capabilities alone-it can also curl up, gripping its nose in its prehensile tail claw for a wild, spinning "wheel attack." In this stance, the spines of an Armoredillo become wicked saw blades capable of slicing through armor.

In addition, the crafters of Dereth have found a wide variety of uses for the hides of these creatures. In fact, the ancient Silifi of Crimson Stars can be re-fitted with the spines of the Armoredillo, making a blade of varying degrees of sharpness.

As always, any other discovered variations of this creature, or other uses for their hides or spines, should be reported to our Arcanum agents.