Cactus Cat -- CR 2 Magical beast
With a fierce scream resembling that of a pumas, a large beast weaves back and forth in front of you. Resembling a large mountain lion, it is covered with thick spines, especially around its ears. Its tail, branched and resembling a spine covered tree limb, twitches agitatedly back and forth as it gazes at you with unfocused eyes. It opens its foam covered mouth, gives another cry, and then leaps, slashing at you with a pair of large, boney talons.
Cactus Cat CR 2
Usually CN Medium magical beast
Init +6;
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Lowlight Vision, Scent; Listen +1, Spot +1
Languages Feline, Understand (But can not speak) Common
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AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12, Spines
(+6 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 28 (3 HD)
Immune Fueled Ferocity (See text below)
Fort +7,
Ref +9,
Will -1
Weakness Spells (See Fueled Ferocity text)
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Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee 2 Bone Talons +9 (1d6+5) and Bite +4 each (1d3+2)
Atk Options Rake (+6 melee attack, 1d3+2)
Special Actions Pounce
Space 5 ft.;
Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +3;
Grp +8
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Abilities Str 20, Dex 23, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 6
Feats Endurance, Weapon Finesse
Skills* Balance +14, Hide +10, Jump +13, Listen +1, Move Silently +10, Spot +1
* -- Includes a +8 racial bonus to Balance and Jump checks. Also includes +4 racial bonus to Hide and Move silently checks.
Advancement 4-5 HD (Medium)
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Fueled Ferocity (Su) A cactus cat's metabolism is magically fueled by the poisons in the plant sap it eats, increasing its physical characteristics at the expense of its cognitive abilities. At any time that a cactus cat would be affected by poison, it instead enters a state similar to a barbarian's rage, gaining a +6 enhancement bonus to its Str, Dex, and Con scores, at the same time receiving a -6 penalty to its Int and Wis scores. While in this state, it is unable to distinguish friend from enemy and will attack anything its addled mind perceives as a threat. This effect lasts for 1 hour per dose of poison. Afterwards, the cactus cat is fatigued for an equivalent amount of time, 1 hour per dose of poison. A cactus cat may not end this state voluntarily. Any spell which delays or cures a poisoned state (
Delay Poison, Neutralize Poison) will instantly end the effect of fueled ferocity as if its duration had ran out naturally (Fatigued for 1 hour per dose.)
Pounce (Ex) If a cactus cat charges a foe, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.
Rake (Ex) 2 claws, Attack bonus +6 melee, damage 1d3+2.
Spines (Ex) The cactus cat is covered with a thick layer of protective spines. Anyone striking a cactus cat with an unarmed strike or natural weapons, or who tries to grapple the cactus cat, takes 1d6 points of piercing damage.
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Fueled Ferocity The above stats are for the Cactus Cat when in its Fueled Ferocity state. When not in this state, it has the following, altered stats.
Senses Listen +4, Spot +4
AC 15, touch 13
(+3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 19 (3 HD)
Fort +4,
Ref +6,
Will +2
Melee 2 Bone Talons +6 (1d6+2) and Bite +1 each (1d3+1)
Atk Options Rake (+6 melee attack, 1d3+1)
Grp +4
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills* Balance +11, Hide +7, Jump +10, Listen +4, Move Silently +7, Spot +4
A desert dwelling feline, the spike covered cactus cat is well known for both its plant milking as well as the destructive rages that often results. Due to the state this induces, local stories often picture it as inebriated, but in truth this is more a result of its magical metabolism.
STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
The cactus cat is actually fairly intelligent when 'sober' and prefers to avoid fighting whenever necessary, using its speed to move out of range of any attackers. When forced to fight, it uses its pounce ability to perform a series of hit and run attacks and tries to avoid attack of opportunity and flanking situations. If a ready source of poison is nearby, it will spend an action, if necessary, to be effected by it in order to use its fueled ferocity ability.
While using its Fueled Ferocity ability, the cactus cat fights in an essentially mindless manner. It attacks whoever is closest to it without regard to other opponents or its own condition. It will fight until dead or nothing around it is moving. A cat driven out of this state will retreat as soon as possible or surrender if this is not possible.
ECOLOGY
Cactus cats are omnivorous desert dwelling cats that principally feed on the plants in the area they live in. While they do prey on small animals, these are supplements to their main diet. Cactus cats use the large boney claws on their forearms to slash open the trunks of cacti or other succulent plants, milking them for their sap. While many of these plants are actually poisonous, the cactus cat's metabolism has adjusted to actually feed on these toxins, gaining a burst of enhanced vigor. Many cactus cats are actually addicted to these poisons, and will feed on nothing but poisonous plants if possible, relishing the feeling it induces.
Desert towns sometime form agreements with local cactus cats. They supply the cats with a wider variety of poisons (Typically in the form of alcohol), and the cats make sure they are far from the town and its trade routes when feeding. Less accommodating towns will hunt down marauding cactus cats when they are spotted due to the damage they can cause. Cactus cats generally do not have other predators due to their protective layer of spines as well as the bitter taste in their meat, a result of their poisonous diet.
Environment: Cactus cats live in the rocky deserts where the cacti they feed on usually grow.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Cactus cats are large cat like creatures, typically five to six feet long. They are named after the long spikes that cover them as well as the plants on which they typically feed. These spikes are made from modified hairs and especially dense around its ears. Its tail is usually around the same length as its body and multiply branched with short stump like growths. A pair of bony spurs juts out from its forearms, just above its paws.
Alignment: While individual cactus cats show a wide variety of alignments, the fact they are usually in a poison induced, mindless frenzy typically means they shift toward chaotic neutral regardless of original leanings.
TYPICAL TREASURE Cactus cats usually see little use for treasure. Any they do have will be in the form of poisons of various sorts, or bottled alcohol.
CREATURE LORE
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcane) or Knowledge (nature) can learn more about cactus cats. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.
Knowledge (arcane)
12 This spine covered feline is a cactus cat. This result reveals all magical beast traits.
17 The spines on a cactus cat provide a prickly defense against natural weapons and unarmed strikes. Poison actually seems to increase its rage.
22 The drunken like state of a cactus cat is actually a result of its magical metabolism. Spells such as Neutralize poison will significantly weaken it.
Knowledge (nature)
14 Many of the plants these cats milk are actually highly toxic to most creatures.
Notes: OK, Fueled Ferocity is a bit...messy. If anyone want to suggest a rewrite that's LESS messy, I'd be willing to listen to it.
