Fantasy games in RPGs have many, many monsters available to challenge player characters, but it can be difficult to surprise long-time players. So new monsters are constantly created. Hybrid animals look at the earliest ideas of monsters and creatures of mythology; take two or more animals and put them together for a new foe. In that spirit, today I present a new monster for Pathfinder, the crocobear.
Crocobear
N Large magical beast CR 5
XP 1,600
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +7
For those seeking more hybrid animal/monster inspiration, consider these two Reddit groups: HybridAnimals and ImaginaryHybrids.
Defense
AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 15 (+1 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
HP 52 (5d8+30)
Fort +8
Ref +5
Will +2
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.; sprint
Melee bite +5 (1d8+4 plus grab), 2 claws +7 (1d6+5 plus grab), tail slap +0 (1d12+2)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Statistics
Str 20
Dex 13
Con 18
Int 2
Wis 12
Cha 4
0 Feats Endurance, Run, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth, Survival)
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +5 (+13 in water), Survival +5, Swim +13
Racial Modifiers +4 Swim, +8 on Stealth in water
Special Qualities hold breath
Ecology
Environment warm rivers and marshes
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Death Grasp (Ex) When grappling a foe of its size or smaller with its bite, a crocobear can perform a death grasp upon making a successful grapple check. As it clings to its foe, it slashes at its victim with its large claws. The crocobear inflicts its bite damage, claw damage (x2), and knocks the creature prone. If successful, the crocobear maintains its grapple to repeat the attack.
Hold Breath (Ex) A crocobear can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 3 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Sprint (Ex) Once per minute a crocobear may sprint, increasing its land speed to 60 feet for 1 round.
Some Pathfinders have an adage of “everything in the Mwangi Expanse wants to kill you” and the crocobear is no exception. The origin of this strange beast is long unknown, but fortunately the abomination is rare enough that few have encountered one. Even fewer are those who have lived to tell the tales of their experience.
Crocobears are solitary creatures that live in warm marsh and swamplands. These powerful carnivores are territorial and vicious, quite willing to kill even what they will not eat. Crocobears prefer to grab their prey (or victims) with their powerful jaws then deal continual damage with their claws until the target is dead. In combat against multiple foes, the crocobear will make use of its tail to keep other back as it focuses its might on a single target at a time. Its coarse, dark brown hair does not hide its layers of scales underneath.
Crocobear mating is also a battle. The male will dig its claws into the female as they mate and, once copulation is complete, the two creatures will attempt to kill the other. Surviving females will lay their eggs and abandon them. The almost absurd ruthlessness of the species is the greatest aid in keeping their population low.
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