A Hook Horror at first glance looks like a children’s drawing of a giant vulture beetle with hooks for arms.  They stand about 9 feet tall and weigh about 400 lbs.  The hooks for arms actually end in foot long razor sharp hooks that can rip out your gullet as if they were gutting a fish.  They live primarily in the underground with all the other freaks, so your chance of meeting them in your living room is pretty much slim to none. They move around the Underdark through echolocation, which makes sense because the Underdark is fucking dark. Don’t get it wrong though, they still have 120 ft. of Darkvision to deal with. Hook Horrors also use that clicking and the smacking of rocks to communicate with one another, so if you hear any clicking echoes in the dark…just turn the other way.  They lay 3 inch eggs that produce little baby horrors after 6 months that don’t become fully grown like heir momma until their 17^th birthday.  Happy Birthday you little freaks.

When it comes to combat, these giant bird beetles attack from above in packs and leave if things get too complicated.  They are far more intelligent than your average monstrosity, actually having dedicated clans where they have extended family groups which is run by the eldest female while the mate is in charge of the hunters.  They defend their eggs in one well-defended spot in their home cavern. 

I LIKE NUMBERS

STR 18 (+14): This 9 foot, 400 pound Horror can climb up to the roof of a cavern and jump down onto you with ease.  Yah, Vulture Boy is strong.

DEX 10 (+0): Can walk with ease

CON 15 (+2): Due to their Cockroach like exoskeleton, they tough to kill. Fuck these things.

INT 6 (-2): Actually surprising since they have a simple language, take care of their young, and have a matriarchal society. But whatever, Underground freaks but stupid I guess.

WIS 12 (+1): With their echolocation, they can sense shit better than you.

CHA 7 (-2): Will not win any beauty contests.

AC: 15

HP: 75 (10d10 +20)

Speed: 30ft., Climb 30ft.

Okay, let’s looks at these giant hooked creepers.  The fact that they can climb that fast for how fucking big they are is terrifying. An AC of 15 with 75 HP for a challenge rating of 3 is rather tough, since they absolutely won’t be fighting alone.  This is a TPK waiting to happen if the Hook Horrors get the drop on them. Of course they won’t have any real sort of strategy with that INT of 6 besides “Surprise! I am giant and I fall from the ceiling!”

COOL SHIT

What is fascinating is that they use echolocation rather than sight to sense their prey.  Why is that cool?  Well, they specifically mention that The Hook Horror cannot use their blindsight while deafened, effectively making them blind.  You don’t get many advantages against creatures like this in dnd so its best to use what you got.

Keen Hearing: The Hook Horror has advantage on perception checks that rely on hearing meaning, even though you can effectively make them blind, they can still hear you fucking plate armor having motherfucker.

ACTION, ACTION, BABY

Multiattack: The Hook Horror makes to attacks.

Hook: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.

Okay so pretty solid, and when I say pretty solid I mean, what the fuck Wizards of the Coast.  Did you make these suckers and forget to balance them?  For a Challenge Rating 3, they can do an average of 22 damage per Horror to a possible low level party of heroes that can be possibly surprised in combat to start shit off.  And don’t forget that they hunt in packs so imagine running into 4 Hook Horrors that can do an average total of 88 damage in a round with that +6 to hit, along with a solid 15 AC and beefy 75 HP. 

MY IDEAS ARE COOL I SWEAR

1. Okay so hear me out, Hook Horrors are growing at an exponential rate; like giant mutant vultures cockroaches.  They are beginning to infest the underbelly of a major city, bursting through the sewers and into surface world like this is Gears of War. However since they are very sensitive to light, they only come out at night to feed and reproduce.  Would be kinda fun as a higher level party trying to find the Queen Cockroach or a way to kill them all at once. 
2. Why do the Hook Horrors have to be dumb?  Thy already have a makings of a society albeit primitive.  If your party is adventuring through the Underdark, have them encounter some benevolent Hook Horrors who help the party where they can.  Would be pretty interesting to have them try to communicate to one another and help each other out.  Hook Horrors, such misunderstood monstrosities!
3. Hook Horrors! Perfect for that underground portion of a Zoo!