A'achael (From The Sketchbook)

A'achael
No. Enc.: 1d8 (4d8)
Alignment: Chaotic (50%)/Neutral (50%)
Movement: 120' (40')
Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 3
Attacks: 2 (claw/bite plus adhesive tongue, or by weapon)
Damage: 1d4/1d4+2/see below*
Save: F4
Morale: 10

Special Attack: A'achael possess sticky tongues that they can shoot out to a distance of 10-14'. Their tongue strikes as a +2 weapon, does no damage, but forces a Save or it adheres to the target, allowing the A'achael to attempt to either drag them closer for a follow-up attack, or to trip them or otherwise disable/disarm their victim, as the situation or occasion warrants.

Tinted six shades of blue, the A'achael are stout, sturdy reptiles who make themselves equally at home in dense forests, lush jungles, coastal marshes or even some of the more moderate desert regions, such as the fortified oases found scattered through the Red Wastes, where they often are persecuted and tormented by Zurians who despise them as barely better than animals.

A'achaels claim that their people once were able to selectively or reflexively change the coloration of their skins (there are opposing views), and that from time to time a throw-back is born that can shift their hue in order to blend into their environment, but this has become a rare thing. Seeing as no specimen has ever been presented to creditable authorities, most experts consider this so much folklore and mostly a spurious claim.

One peculiar talent that has been noted among the spell-casting members of the known A'achael tribes along the Red Wastes in particular is their ability to manipulate the coloration of inert objects and sometimes even living beasts. The effect seems to be permanent, and causes no damage to those things affected by it. For the most part those A'achael who have this ability use it to unfairly compete with dyers who rely on more traditional techniques. This has led to more than a few incidents of violence in those cities where the A'achael have made significant inroads into the marketplace.