Large Cat Mount (3.5e Creature)

Size/Type:	Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice:	5d10+18 (46 hp)
Initiative:	+1
Speed:	10 ft. (2 squares), swim 40 ft.
Armor Class:	16 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +6 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple:	+6/+14
Attack:	Claw +9 melee (1d6+4)
Full Attack:	2 claws +9 melee (1d6+4) and bite +4 melee (1d6+2)
Space/Reach:	10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks:	Rend 1d6+3
Special Qualities:	Darkvision 60 ft., hold breath, low-light vision, scent
Saves:	Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +5
Abilities:	Str 19, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 10
Skills:	Listen +8, Spot +7, Swim +12
Feats:	Alertness, Endurance, Iron Will
Environment:	Temperate aquatic
Organization:	Solitary, pair, or pride (5–12)
Challenge Rating:	2
Treasure:	None
Alignment:	Always neutral
Advancement:	7–9 HD (Large); 10–18 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment:	—

A typical cat is 12 feet long and weighs 800 pounds.

COMBAT

Sea cats attack on sight, either for food or to defend their territory, and use both claws and teeth to grab and rend their prey. They display tremendous courage, always fighting to the death, even against creatures many times their size. Pairs and prides of sea cats attack in concert, trying to wear the opponent down until one beast can dispatch it.

Hold Breath (Ex): A sea cat can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 6 x its Constitution score before it risks drowning.

Rend (Ex): A sea cat that hits with both claw attacks latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This automatically deals an extra 1d6+3 points of damage.

Skills: A sea cat has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

This creature is a modified version of the original to be a fair mount for a paladin.

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