Roleplaying
Originally Posted by
InsanePsychoRabbit of the Wizards Community forums.
BRONTOTHERIUM
CR 7
Always Neutral Huge Animal
Init +0; Senses low-light vision, Listen +11, Spot +10
Languages—
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AC 18, touch 8, flatfooted 18
(-2 Dex, +10 natural)
hp 138 (12 HD)
Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +7
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Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee Slam +19 (3d6+18)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +9; Grapple +29
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Atk Options Power Attack, powerful charge, toss
Abilities Str 34, Dex 10, Con 25, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 2
Feats Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Power Attack
Skills Listen +11, Spot +10
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Environment Warm forests and plains
Organization solitary or herd (2-12)
Treasure none
Advancement 13-18 HD (Huge); 19-36 HD (Gargantuan)
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Powerful Charge (Ex): A brontotherium deals 6d6+36 points
of damage when it makes a charge.
Toss (Ex): Targets
up to Large size struck by a brontotherium’s powerful charge attack
must make a DC 28 Reflex save or be thrown 1d2x10 feet. Thrown creatures suffer
1d6 points of damage for every 10 feet they are thrown and land prone. The
save DC is Strength-based.
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This mammoth creature appears to be a rhinoceros of truly epic proportions.
Instead of a single horn, however, a bony, Y-shaped knob juts from its snout.
A brontotherium is a
huge rhino-like mammal with an aggressive temperament. Instead of the normal
rhinoceros horn, brontotherium has a peculiar Y-shaped knob of bone on its
snout.
These large mammals can be found in warm forests and plains where they move
about in small herds of up to a dozen individuals. Because of its great size
and aggressiveness, an adult brontotherium has few natural enemies, and can
kill or severely injure even lion-sized predators.
A typical brontotherium stands 8 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs in excess of 2 tons.
COMBAT
Highly aggressive and temperamental, a brontotherium will attack nearly any
Medium-size creature that wanders too close. This is especially true if there
are young present in the herd, as the adults will kill or drive off any perceived
threat. A brontotherium attacks by slamming its great blunt horn into
enemies, and often opens combat with a charge. Creatures struck by a brontotherium’s
charge are often pitched into the air with a powerful toss of the beast’s
head.
FOR PLAYER CHARACTERS
A druid of 13th level or higher can gain a brontotherium as an alternative
animal companion.
Although temperamental, a brontotherium can make an excellent pack animal and an outstanding war mount. Hill and stone giants have been known to ride these massive creatures into battle, a pairing that can make for a nearly unstoppable cavalry charge. Rearing a brontotherium from a calf requires a DC 27 Handle Animal check. An adult brontotherium can carry a staggering 5,592 pounds as a light load.
A brontotherium can be summoned with summon nature’s ally VI or a higher level summon nature’s ally spell. Treat the brontotherium as being on the 6th-level list on the Summon Nature’s Ally table.
BRONTOTHERIUM
IN THE REAL WORLD
Brontotherium belongs to an extinct group of mammals called brontotheridae,
which are related to modern day horses, rhinos, and tapirs. Although Brontotherium
was very rhino-like in appearance, it was actually more closely related to
horses than rhinos. Brontotherium grazed the warm forests and plains of the
Late Eocene (35 million years ago), but died out due to an inability to adapt
to the drying climate of the Oligocene and the spread of tougher vegetation
(such as grasses).
Aepycamelus and Brontotherium from Animal Archives: Prehistoric Animals I, Copyright 2007, Blackdirge Publishing; Author Aeryn Rudel.