The viper’s back carries a raised ridge of rigid, thorn-like venom spines. When prey comes close, it coils, snaps sideways, and rakes the spine ridge across the victim. Against small prey, this usually kills outright; against sophonts, it causes paralysis, shock, and internal bleeding. When a thorn-lash deals at least 1 point of damage after armour, the victim must make an END 10+ check. Success: The victim suffers 1D damage ignoring armour and has DM−1 to STR/DEX-based checks for 1D rounds. Failure: The victim suffers 2D damage ignoring armour and has DM−2 to STR/DEX-based checks for 1D minutes. The victim cannot sprint or take reactions requiring sudden movement. Failure by 6+: The victim is also paralysed for 1D × 10 minutes or until treated. After 10 minutes, an untreated victim must make END 8+ or suffer another 1D damage ignoring armour. A successful Medic 8+ check stabilises the victim and prevents the second damage roll. Antivenom gives DM+4 and ends the ongoing effect. Lodged Spine: If the thorn-lash attack has Effect 4+, one spine breaks off in the wound. Removing it without a Medic 8+ check causes another END 8+ venom check. A thorn-viper should feel less like a monster fight and more like a dangerous environmental trap with teeth. It is small enough that heavily armoured Travellers can kill it easily once they know it is there, but it is deadly to scouts, children, surveyors, hunters, nobles on garden walks, or anyone moving through brush without protection. Typical encounter: Recon 10+ to notice one in open brush; Recon 12+ in dense thorn scrub; Recon 14+ if distracted, moving at speed, or operating at night. Tactics: It waits motionless, lashes once, then withdraws into cover. If cornered, it lashes repeatedly. If guarding eggs or juveniles, it attacks until killed. Harvest Value: Intact venom sacs are worth Cr300–600 to pharmaceutical buyers. On Alell, possession without permit is probably illegal or heavily regulated, given the high law level implied by the UWP.