Paddlesnatch
Price: Tier 6 for an intact shell. No known market for living paddlesnatches as they are too unpleasant, nor for their meat, which is generally considered foul-tasting.
Habitat: Lotic (fast-flowing) waters in Ol’ Tuck’s Run. Most common in Ol’ Tuck’s Rapids.
Lifespan and Development: Paddlesnatches are long-lived as are many turtles, and continue to grow throughout their lives. They may live upwards of 80 arcs. Mature paddlesnatches are known to range in size anywhere from 1 foot in diameter to 4 feet, and are believed to grow larger still.
Diet: Fish (especially loaches) and some river plants.
Temperament: Paddlesnatches are not aggressive, but are highly irritable and generally unapproachable.
Abilities: Paddlesnatches are large snapping turtles with powerful jaws that like to perch amongst rocks in rapids of Ol’ Tuck’s Run. The coloration and texture of their shells is such that they blend in with these rocks quite well. As a result, hapless canoers sometimes inadvertently prod these irascible turtles with their paddles while trying to navigate shallows and rapids.
This provokes the behavior that gives these creatures their name: the paddlesnatch will clamp the offending oar in its jaws and try to wrench it free from the startled canoer’s grasp. This can confront canoers with the unenviable choice between losing their oars in the Rapids and contesting control with the paddlesnatch in a tug-o’-war often vigorous enough to capsize their craft.
For those who cannot spare an oar, the best tactic is to hang onto the oar passively , waiting for the turtle to get tired and/or bored and let go on its own. Doing so successfully requires a skill level of Expert in one of, or Competent in at least two of, the following: Strength, Endurance, Discipline, Fieldcraft, Seafaring.
Weaknesses: Slow-moving. Unintelligent. Their lower carapace is softer than that of most turtles.
Credit: Oram Mednix
Habitat: Lotic (fast-flowing) waters in Ol’ Tuck’s Run. Most common in Ol’ Tuck’s Rapids.
Lifespan and Development: Paddlesnatches are long-lived as are many turtles, and continue to grow throughout their lives. They may live upwards of 80 arcs. Mature paddlesnatches are known to range in size anywhere from 1 foot in diameter to 4 feet, and are believed to grow larger still.
Diet: Fish (especially loaches) and some river plants.
Temperament: Paddlesnatches are not aggressive, but are highly irritable and generally unapproachable.
Abilities: Paddlesnatches are large snapping turtles with powerful jaws that like to perch amongst rocks in rapids of Ol’ Tuck’s Run. The coloration and texture of their shells is such that they blend in with these rocks quite well. As a result, hapless canoers sometimes inadvertently prod these irascible turtles with their paddles while trying to navigate shallows and rapids.
This provokes the behavior that gives these creatures their name: the paddlesnatch will clamp the offending oar in its jaws and try to wrench it free from the startled canoer’s grasp. This can confront canoers with the unenviable choice between losing their oars in the Rapids and contesting control with the paddlesnatch in a tug-o’-war often vigorous enough to capsize their craft.
For those who cannot spare an oar, the best tactic is to hang onto the oar passively , waiting for the turtle to get tired and/or bored and let go on its own. Doing so successfully requires a skill level of Expert in one of, or Competent in at least two of, the following: Strength, Endurance, Discipline, Fieldcraft, Seafaring.
Weaknesses: Slow-moving. Unintelligent. Their lower carapace is softer than that of most turtles.
Credit: Oram Mednix