Monday, February 17, 2014

Frightful (mid-)February! Meowls

Hello and welcome back to Frightful Fridays! It's been quite a while since I posted thanks to various delays, and I apologize for being away. I have one leftover mashup for you, continuing on from the mashup madness a month ago. I ran with the idea that these animals are supreme mousers, and I wanted to present two versions: one suited for wizards, witches and other familiar-owning classes, and one suited for druids and rangers.


I hope you like the meowls, and I promise to bring you something other than a mashup for the next monster. Thanks for reading!



This creature's head, that of a domestic tabby cat, blends seamlessly with its owl body.
Meowl CR 1/2
XP 200
N Tiny animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +5

Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1

Offense
Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee bite +4 (1d4–3), 2 talons +4 (1d3–3)
Space 2.5 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 talons +4, 1d3–3), rodent foe

Statistics
Str 5, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 7
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +10, Perception +9 (+11 vs. rodents), Stealth + 14, Survival +1 (+3 to track rodents); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception (+6 Perception vs. rodents), +4 Stealth, +2 Survival to track rodents

Ecology
Environment temperate forest, plains or urban
Organization solitary, pair, or glaring (3–8)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Rodent Foe (Ex) A meowl has a +2 racial bonus on Perception and Survival checks against rodents (rats, porcupines, etc.) and rodent hybrid creatures, such as wererats. Additionally, a meowl has a +2 racial bonus on attack and damage rolls against such creatures. A meowl may make untrained Survival checks to track rodents, even if the DC is greater than 10.

A spellcaster with the familiar class ability can take a meowl as a familiar at 1st level and gains a +2 bonus on Stealth checks and a +2 bonus on sight-based and opposed Perception checks in shadows or darkness.


This strange animal is a combination of sandy brown owl body and snarling leopard head.
Great Meowl CR 2
XP 600
N Medium animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10

Defense
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3

Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee bite +3 (1d6+1), 2 talons +3 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 talons +3, 1d4+1), rodent foe

Statistics
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 14
Feats Death from Above, Lightning Reflexes
Skills Fly +5, Perception +14 (+18 vs. rodents), Stealth +9, Survival +2 (+6 when tracking rodents); Racial Modifiers +4 Perception (+8 vs. rodents), +4 Survival when tracking rodents

Ecology
Environment temperate forest or plains
Organization solitary, pair, or pride (3–6)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Rodent Foe (Ex) A great meowl has a +4 racial bonus on Perception and Survival checks against rodents (rats, porcupines, etc.) and rodent hybrid creatures, such as wererats. Additionally, a great meowl has a +4 racial bonus on attack and damage rolls against such creatures. A great meowl may make untrained Survival checks to track rodents, even if the DC is greater than 10.

Great Meowl Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good); AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), 2 talons (1d3); Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 11; Special Attacks rake (1d3), rodent foe; Special Qualities low-light vision.
4th-Level Advancement: Size Medium; Speed fly 80 ft. (average); AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6), 2 talons (1d4); Ability Scores Str +2, Dex –2, Con +2; Special Attacks pounce, rake (1d4).

In two separate instances of crossbreeding, a wizard created the first meowl and a druid husbanded the first great meowl. The two predators proved to be compatible and a number of them have spread throughout the world to act as trained hunters of mice or rats, familiars (in the case of standard meowls) or companion animals (great meowls). No truly domesticated specimens exist, but the animals are easily trained, if aloof with their trainers. Rumors persist regarding a crossbreed of great owl and tiger terrorizing jungles and savannas, as well as a lynx/snowy owl crossbreed that hunts frozen lands.