FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Forest], [Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level III])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 6 or 12" (see below)
HIT DICE: 5
% IN LAIR: 15%
TREASURE TYPE: [B]
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3 <(foreclaw/foreclaw/bite)>
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6/1-6/1-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average but high cunning <perhaps, Int. = High in combat situations>
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil
SIZE: L (8' tall)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III | 130 + 5 <(25 hp = 255)> <check>

SAVES: 11.12.13.13.14

Weird mutations of lizard men, babblers are large ponderous marsh-dwellers,
known as marsh-gibberers to native tribes dwelling near their swamp habitat.
Their predominant colour is a dirty yellow, though <c>
their undersides are grey. Mottled grey patches create {weird} designs
on their muscular bodies.
In form, the babbler resembles a small gorgosaurus with a flexible, tough tail employed to keep the creature stable in erect movement.

Normal movement is a surprisingly FAST (12" rate) slither on its stomach,
but in melee the babbler must stand erect, in which posture
its movement rate is reduced to 6", or order to use its two <2> foreclaws
(1-6 hit points of damage each) and its bite (1-8 hit points of damage).
It has particulary large mouth,
filled with rows of sharp teeth.

When moving on its belly the babbler is difficult to detect (25% chance)
but animals will smell it some distance away. <cf WSG rules>
If it is undetected in approach it can strike from behind as a 4th level thief, <link, level title>
doing double <(x2)> damage and gaining a bonus of +4 on the 'to hit' roll.

The babbler is particularly fond of human flesh and will attack
humans unless outnumbered by more than two to one.
Raiding parties of marsh-dwelling [lizard men] have been observed to be led by
one, two or even three babblers in an evil [quest] for human flesh. <note at lizard man>

The babbler communicates with its kind in a quasi-lingual babbling tongue
which defies efforts at analysis and learning by humans. <l>
It can understand the Common tongue in a rudimentary fashion. <C>
 

    by Jeremy Goodwin and Ian McDowell