|
|
HAKUNA
Medium Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 5d10+15 (40 hp)
Initiative: +4 (Dex)
Speed: 40ft.
AC: 16 (+4 Dex, +2 Natural)
Attacks: Bite +8 melee, 2 claws +6 melee
Damage: Bite 2d6+6, Claws 1d8+6
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Silent Ambush, Pounce, Rake
Special Qualities: Silence the Broken Leaves, Ranged Growling, Scent
Saves: Fort: +4, Ref: +1, Will: +1
Abilities: Str: 22, Dex: 18, Con: 14, Int: 4, Wis: 10, Cha: 12
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +10, Hide +12, Jump +8, Move Silently +35, Spot +8
Feats: multiattack
___________________________________________________________
Climate/Terrain: Tropical and subtropical mountains, marsh, hills and forests
Organization: Solitary or Mother with cubs (1-3)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement Range: 6-7 HD (medium) 8-10 HD (large)
Where most great jungle cats are small, these natives to Maztica grow into medium feline predators. The Hakuna resembles a black panther but is thicker, more heavily muscled, and sprouts small tufts of golden feathers in the pits of its forearms and down its chest. Its eyes range from a copper color to a gold color and they have the sharp eyesight common to all felines. Females bear litters and care for 1-3 cubs as any normal feline until the young reach maturity and head out to claim a territory of their own. They can be encountered hunting at any time of the day though they prefer stalking through the jungle at night where their coloration gives them an additional +2 to their Hide skill. They usually hunt jungle deer, peccary, wild boar, and even caiman, but are known man-eaters although they retreat quickly if they sense their prey is the stronger. Once gone they will not return as they always find easier hunting elsewhere. Also, unlike most other predatory felines, the Hakuna will not attempt to suffocate its victim by grabbing a hold. It relies on its Silent Ambush ability to secure its meals. Their world is a world without sound. They communicate with each other through their stance, movement of whiskers and ears, and the lashing of their tails. They are ever watchful. An Hakuna that is only curious will lash its tail from side to side and its ears will move around as if it is attempting to hear. Beware the Hakuna low to the ground with ears intently toward its prey and its tail held still with the tip in a slight upward curve.
COMBAT
Hakuna are known to stalk their prey, patiently waiting for its prey to fall asleep or become inattentive before making its silent ambush attack. There has been many stories of people who suddenly notice a fire beginning to crackle once again and the sounds of the jungle start up, the wind blowing, only to glimpse an Hakuna jump through an open window carrying a loved one in its maw. Because of this they are sometimes called the Mictlamiztli (Death Cat or Murder Cat). Once an Hakuna has killed what it can eat it withdraws, dragging the kill in its powerful jaws, to enjoy its meal elsewhere.
Silence the Broken Leaves (Su): Hakuna constantly emit a Silence about them as the spell of the same name cast as a 8th level wizard. They cannot suppress this effect and so cannot be heard. This ability increases the Hakunas skill at moving silently by +25. Dispelling the silence only works momentarily as at the instant the magical effect is gone it is regenerated by the Hakuna. Suppressing the ability for longer, as in the case of an anti-magic field, causes the Hakuna to lose this bonus forcing it to rely on its own natural ability of +10.
Silent Ambush (Su): If the Hakuna can maneuver itself close enough to a victim to make a standard pounce it can make a Coup de Grace attack, tearing out the throat or caving in the skull with its bite attack, as if its victim were immobilized and helpless. This Coup de Grace attack does not provoke an attack of opportunity. An opponent who spots an Hakuna spoils the silent ambush although the Hakuna can still attack normally.
Ranged Growling (Sp): Hakuna can emit a distinctive roar or loud growl at will. The Hakuna uses this growl only as a challenge, warning, or distraction to those able to hear it and not as a form of same species communication. The growl is produced between 15 feet and 45 feet away, outside the range of its Silence the Broken Leaves ability. The Hakuna growls in any direction desired as if using the ventriloquism spell cast as a 8th level wizard. Hakuna are fond of growling as they make their Silent Ambush attack in order to further distract and confuse opponents. Prey often retreat in the direction of the attacking Hakuna. Intelligent prey often turn to face the sound and away from the attacking Hakuna.
Rake (Ex): On any round that an Hakuna pounces it can make two rake attacks (+6 melee) with its hind legs for 1d8 points of damage each.
|
|
|