Puttikan
Puttikan
CR 6 N Magical Beast
This bipedal rodent-like monster is about as tall as a man, although it is broader. Its clawed feet twist back on themselves, and its teeth are fused into a beak-like structure. Plates and spines cover its back and shoulders. Its tail is as long as the whole creature is tall, curving and studded with blades.
Puttikans are hopping carnivorous marsupials. Despite their resemblance to kangaroos and to rodents, they are properly neither—their closest kin seem to be bilbies and bandicoots. They hunt using their speed and agility to make hit and run attacks. Their long leaps and razor-sharp tails give them reach and maneuverability in the rocky ground and dense bush they favor, making it difficult for foes to flee or fight back. They do not bother with stealth; the hopping stride of a puttikan is crashing, and has been compared to gunfire.
Puttikans are of animal intelligence. However, they are commonly used as bogeys by local people to threaten their children to behave well and obey local customs. In the lore of some tribes, puttikans are enforcers of taboo, checking people to ensure they have the proper physical markings of belonging and leaving them alone if they do. These stories are likely inspired by the puttikan’s habit of investigating any noises in their habitat for suitability as prey. A group is more likely to be ignored than a lone traveler, enforcing the idea that they target outcasts above properly socialized people.
Puttikan CR 6
XP 2,400
N Medium magical beast
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +7, scent
Defense
AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural)
hp 67 (9d10+18)
Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +5
DR 10/magic
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +12 (1d6+3), 2 claws +12 (1d4+3), razor tail +7 (1d12+4)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with tail)
Special Attacks opportunist flick,powerful blows (razor tail)
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis15, Cha 8
Base Atk +9; CMB +12; CMD 25
Feats Combat Reflexes,Dodge, Mobility, Skill Focus (Acrobatics), Spring Attack
Skills Acrobatics +14 (+18 when jumping), Climb +7, Perception +7, Swim +7; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics
SQ confounding trail, improved woodland stride,mighty leap
Ecology
Environment temperate mountains
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Confounding Trail (Su) A puttikan’s footprints seem to twist and distort in the ground. Survival checks made to track a puttikan take a -10 penalty.
Improved Woodland Stride (Su) A puttikan ignores all difficult terrain and damage from natural or magically enhanced plant growth.
Mighty Leap (Ex) A puttikan can make Acrobatics checks to jump without penalty if it does not take a running start. If it does get a running start, it doubles the distance traveled.
Opportunist Flick (Ex) A puttikan gets a +4 racial bonus on attack rolls made using its tail to make an attack of opportunity.
Razor Tail (Ex) A puttikan’s tail is treated as a secondary natural weapon that deals slashing damage.