Grotto Iguana (New Monster)

This is a new monster for Holmes Basic, one which is featured in Area 18 of The Forgotten Smugglers' Cave adventure (which is indexed here).

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Grotto Iguana

Move: 90 feet/turn
Hit Dice: 3 + 1
Armor Class: 2
Treasure Type: nil

Alignment: neutral

Attacks: 1 bite + 1 tail whip
Damage: 2d6/bite, 1d6/tail whip

In certain wet and warm caverns of the underworld, strange vegetation thrives under the glow of phosphorescent fungus, and in such places dwells the grotto iguana. Herbivores like their smaller surface-dwelling cousins, these giant lizards can purportedly live for over a century, slowly growing to the size of a horse.

Forming loose-knit colonies, the smaller iguanas will, if threatened, flee and hide among the crevices of the grotto, while the larger individuals will defend themselves with a strong bite and a whip of their long tails, which can be used against a second opponent if necessary. They also scrape their tail on the ground, making a noise that will summon others to their aid.

If approached cautiously, and provided with generous amounts of fruits and vegetables, the largest individuals can be induced to serve as underworld pack animals (treat as a draft horse with a carrying capacity of 5,000 gold pieces).