FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 12″
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2–12 / 2-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
ATTACK/DEFENSE MODES: Nil
XP: 60 + 4/hp
Tursks are giant two-headed snakes. The creature’s main body is 10 feet long, with the front portion ending in two hooded, fanged heads. Their scales range from dark green to dark brown. Sometimes, the backs of their wide hoods have colorful designs. They are aggressive hunters and attack prey with great ferocity.
Although most tursks have two heads, there are rare occasions where three or even four-headed tursks have been encountered. Each head sways gently and rhythmically during a combat round, and the creature always strikes last. When they do attack, each head gains a +2 “to hit” modifier and inflicts 2-12 points of damage. The tursk can aim its attack at the same victim or split its attack between multiple victims, providing they are within melee range.
In the rare cases where a tursk has more than two heads, the beast gains an additional attack and hit dice for each additional head. Thus, four-headed tursks would attack four times a round and have six hit dice.
Tursks dwell in forests and dismal swamps. They feed on small mammals and reptiles but attack humanoids as well. Tursk scales can be harvested and sold for the equivalent of 5 gp per hit point of the beast.
Artwork: Teresa Guido