Monster Monday: Kalidahs

Kalidahs (C&C stats)

No. Enc.: 1-3, 6-36
Size: Large
HD: 6 (d8) + 6 HP
Move: 40 ft
AC: 15
Attacks: 2 Claw (1d10), Bite (1d10)
Special: Rake
Saves: P
INT: Low
Align: Neutral Evil (Neutral tendencies)
Type: Magical Beast
TR: 5
XP: 240+6

Kalidahs are forest-dwelling creatures that possess the bodies of bears combined with the heads of tigers, with long, deadly claws on their paws.  They are intelligent creatures, and speak the Common tongue as well as their own language.  Ornery and aggressive creatures, they will often attack travelers in their forests simply for the sake of being combative; they will sometimes fight among themselves if they lack opponents that can satisfy their battlelust.  Practical creatures, they are dismissive of beauty for its own sake.

Kalidahs will sometimes climb trees in pursuit of their prey, assuming the branches are strong enough to support their weight, and spaced out enough that they would have room to maneuver through the branches.  They are also good swimmers, and will pursue their victims into rivers or streams if necessary.

Combat: Aggressive and combative creatures, Kalidahs rarely bother with ambushes, usually charging directly toward their opponents.  They are well-aware of their fearsome reputation, and may be surprised if opponents do not flee in fear, but will usually charge into melee against said foes anyways.

Rake: If a Kalidah successfully bites an opponent, it can make two rake attacks with its hind legs.  Each such attack has a +3 bonus to hit, and inflicts 1d10 damage.

Weakness to Magic: Kalidahs don't deal very well with magic, and suffer a -1 penalty to any saving throws against magic attacks.

Kalidah King: If a Kalidah nest has two dozen or more Kalidahs, there will be a Kalidah 'King' present as leader of the pack.  Such a 'king' will have 7d8+7 HD, an Intelligence of Average, does not suffer the above-listed weakness to magic, and may possess some minor druidical magic (treat as a 3rd level Druid).

Source: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and "The Magic of Oz" by L. Frank Baum 

This monster entry is part of the Monstrous Monday bloghop, courtesy of The Other Side blog.