Catoblepas (Dungeons & Dragons)

(For the mythological creature, see: Catoblepas)

In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Catoblepas is a Magical Beast based upon the creature from Ethiopian mythology. It has a large, bloated, bison's body with short, stumpy legs like those of a pygmy Elephant or Hippopotamus. At the front of its body is a tuffty, shaggy mane of dark brown hair, from which sprouts a long, snakey neck. At the end of the neck is a head like that of a warthog, only with bloodshot eyes, and teeth both inside and out. The Catoblepas' coiling tail has a stony mass of stubby spikes at the end. The creature is orange-reddish-brown in color, and its hide is covered with warts, scabs, and bits of encrusted dung. It is very ugly. It lives in dismal swamps, scrublands and wastelands.

Charactertistics and habits
The Catoblepas' habits are somewhat shrouded in mystery. It dwells in caves and other such lairs in the dreary depths of its harsh environment, and emerges only to eat. For the majority of the month, the Catoblepas feasts on poisonous plants and foul tasting scrub which grows low to the ground, saving up energy for a proper hunt. The Catoblepas is a social creature which mates for life, and is usually found with a mate and one offspring. Being a semi-intelligent creature, it treats opposing parties with respect, is not above eating carrion, can learn from past mistakes and mishaps, is cunning and sly, and attacks only for hunger or in defence. Catoblepi are fairly dominant creature in their environment and have virtually no predators aside from those who would oppose them.

Though the Catoblepas eats mostly plants, it needs a monthly serving of meat. When it has eaten enough plants for the month and saved up enough energy, it ventures out to find prey. When it finds them (often a troupe of adventurers), it first weakens them by beating them with its tail, and then blasts them with a deadly beam it emmits from its eyes. The beam can either burn, paralyze, kill, or turn to stone. When it has won a fight, it feasts on the corpses. After that, it goes back to its lair to feast upon plants once again until next month. Catoblepi can also bite and grapple.

Catoblepi cannot speak, but understand Common.

They are neutral evil in alignment.