Southland: Dangerous Prairie Animals

THE SOUTHLAND

A Fantasy Core Setting

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Southland Index

Humanoid Lands Index

Dangerous Prairie Animals

The prairie is actually dense with potential prey for the Gnolls.  Wandering troops of other Humanoids and humans are their favorites, mostly for the challenge.  Their staple meals, however, are the various herd animals on the plains.  Unfortunately for anyone else looking for an easy meal, these animals are all dangerous.

Wild Dire Kangaroos

HD 3, Hp 22, AC 13 (Natural)

Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +1

Melee: Kick +3 to hit 2d4 + Stun 1 rd

And Pouch Attack (for Kangaroos carrying young) Bite +1 to hit 1d4

Stampede: (requires 5) Attacks at +5 to hit, 1d4 x 3 damage + Stun 1 rd, and effects up to three adjacent combatants, may execute this attack once per encounter.

Can hop at 25 mph

The Ancients essentially weaponized an otherwise unassuming natural animal.  The large, vicious Dire version has completely replaced it.  Rampaging hoards of these creatures are hopping around the continent.  They devastate an area’s vegetation and move on.  Commonwealth farmers battle them constantly for real estate.  There are bounties on them as have some value for their pelt and meat.

Killer Sheep

HD 3+12, Hp 25, AC 16 (Natural)

Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +2

Melee: Bite +4 to hit 1d8+3

Stampede: (requires 5) Attacks at +6 to hit, 1d6 x 3 damage + Stun 1 rd, and effects up to four adjacent combatants, may execute this attack once per encounter.

Another weaponized natural animal.  While not carnivorous, Killer Sheep have no qualms about biting and killing anyone getting near the flock.  Commonwealth sheepherders are constantly vigilant about keeping this species away from their docile variety.  The killer version is still valuable for their meat and wool, so there are bounties on them. 

Dire Rabbits

HD 1, Hp 4, AC 15 (Natural)

Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3

Melee: Bite +3 to hit 1d4

Hop: Often their first attack on intruders, Claws +3 to hit 1d8, may execute this attack once per encounter

Swarm: (requires 10) +5 to hit 1d8 x 3, next rd 2 rabbits will continue attacking by biting, may execute this attack once per encounter, often to retreat

Rabbits are not native to the Southland, but were brought in by Commonwealth land owners as an easy meat supply that could survive on marginal land.  With no natural predators, they went out of control quickly.  Worse, a group of rabbits came into contact with something supernatural (another mystery?) that turned them vicious.  They have since become the dominant rabbit species.  Not only do they devastate farmland, they can defend themselves as well.  They have some small value for their pelts and meat.  Bounties for these animals are everywhere in the Southland.