Dinosaur, Psittacosaurus
Dinosaur, Psittacosaurus
This pudgy reptilian creature stands on two legs, balanced by a long, thick tail covered in thin quills. Its head bears a parrot-like beak and wide cheekbones.
Gregarious omnivores able to survive in almost any terrain, psittacosauruses are small relatives of the larger and more famed triceratops. Like their huge kin, psittacosauruses are not choosy eaters, feeding on roots and tubers, shrubs, seeds, nuts and even small animals and eggs. Lacking horns, psittacosauruses use their powerful beaks and their unusual quilled tails for defense. These quills are as sharp and as pernicious as those of a porcupine and can lead to permanent disfigurement for an unwary predator.
Psittacosauruses prefer the company of others of their own species, living in extended family groups of cousins and siblings. Although psittacosauruses brood their eggs, the young are born able to walk and feed themselves and join the herd mere hours after hatching. Psittacosaurus herds move based on the resources available to them—those living in forests roam with the seasons, whereas those in plains and deserts are constantly wandering in the search for food and water. A psittacosaurus grows to six feet in length at maximum, although half of that is tail. They weigh about 50 pounds.
Psittacosaurus Animal Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 30 feet; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), tail (1d3); Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 5; Special Qualities low-light vision, quills
4th-Level Advancement: Ability Scores Str +2, Con +2
Psittacosaurus CR ½
XP 200
N Small animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, Perception +5
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 13(+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +1 (1d4) and tail -1 (1d3 plus quills)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis13, Cha 5
Base Attack +0; CMB -1; CMD 10
Feats Endurance, Multiattack B
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +9; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth
Ecology
Environment warm land
Organization solitary, pair or herd (3-18 plus up to 200% noncombatants)
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Quills (Ex) Whenever a creature takes damage from a psittacosaurus’ tail attack, it must succeed a DC 11 Reflex save or a quill breaks off in its flesh, causing the creature to become sickened until the quill is removed. A DC 15 Heal check made as a full-round action allows the quill to be removed safely; on a failed check, the quill is still removed but deals 1d3 points of damage. For every 5 points by which the Heal check is passed, an additional quill can be removed in the round. The save DC is Dexterity based.