Roleplaying
Originally Posted by
Shade of the En World forums.
| Agriotherium | |
| Large Animal | |
| Hit Dice | 15d8+75 (142 hp) |
| Initiative | +2 |
| Speed | 50 ft. (10 squares) |
| Armor Class | 18 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +7 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 16 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +11/+25 |
| Attack: Claw | +20 melee (1d10+10) |
| Full Attack | 2 claws +20 melee (1d10+10) and bite +18 melee (1d12+5) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Ferocity, gnaw, improved grab, rend 2d10+15 |
| Special Qualities | Dire, low-light vision, scent |
| Saves | Fort +14, Ref +10, Will +10 |
| Abilities | Str 31, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10 |
| Skills | Listen +12, Spot +12 |
| Feats | Alertness, Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Multiattack, Power Attack, Run |
| Environment | Warm plains |
| Organization | Solitary, pair, or pack (3-6) |
| Challenge Rating | 9 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | Advancement 16-24 HD (Large); 25-30 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
This great beast looks like a bear with the proportions of a tiger. It runs towards you, a hungry gleam in its eyes.
Agriotherium is not a true bear, but rather a hemicyonid, close relatives of bears built for running. Rather than the omnivory of most bears, Agriotherium is a true carnivore, feeding mostly on the flesh of elephants, rhinos and other huge beasts, although it can and will scavenge and feed on fruits, grubs and honey. Agriotherium hunts in pairs or in small packs, and these groupings are very territorial--they are likely to view intrusions of humanoids into their ranges as a threat.
An agriotherium is 10 feet long and 6 feet tall at the shoulder, weighing around 2,200 pounds.
COMBAT
Agriotherium use pack tactics combined with their great speed and strength to catch prey, then savage it mercilessly with their fierce paws and teeth.
Dire (Ex): An agriotherium is considered to be a dire animal for the purposes of saving throws.
Ferocity (Ex): An agriotherium is such a tenacious combatant that it continues to fight without penalty even while disabled or dying.
Gnaw (Ex): An agriotherium that hits with both claw attacks may make an immediate free bite attack. Additionally, it deals automatic bite damage every round it maintains a grapple.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an agriotherium must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Rend (Ex): If an agriotherium hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an additional 2d10+15 points of damage.
Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #167 (1991).