Castorocauda (3.5e Creature)
Castorocauda[edit]
| N Tiny Animal | |
| Init/Senses | +2/Listen +1, Spot +1 |
| AC | 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 size) |
| hp | 2 (1/2 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +2/+2/+1 |
| Speed | 20 ft., burrow 5 ft., swim 30 ft. |
| Melee | Bite +4 melee (1d3-4) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./0 ft. |
| Base Atk/Grp | +0/-8 |
| Abilities | Str 3, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 |
| SQ | Low-light vision, scent |
| Feats | Agile |
| Skills | Balance +4, Escape Artist +12, Move Silently +6, Swim +10 |
| Advancement | — |
| Possessions | - |
| Hold Breath (Ex) | A castorocauda can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 6 x its Constitution score (60 rounds) before it risks drowning. |
| Attach (Ex) | If a castorocauda hits with a bite attack, it uses its powerful jaws to latch onto the opponent’s body and automatically deals bite damage each round it remains attached. An attached castorocauda loses its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class and has an AC of 12. An attached castorocauda can be struck with a weapon or grappled itself. To remove an attached castorocauda through grappling, the opponent must achieve a pin against the creature. |
A group of tiny, brown-furred creatures dart from the weeds, rushing into the water. They appear very similar to weasels in size and shape (other than their tails). They bounce rapidly and thrash as they do so, giggling maniacally like playful stoats.
The castorocauda is a semiaquatic conodont which appears most like a tiny cross between a beaver, a weasel, and a river otter. They dig their burrows into the sides of lakes and ponds, ensuring that at least half of the entrance is filled with water. They primarily eat fish and amphibians, such as bluegills, newts, and frogs.
¹Castorocaudas have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks and a +8 racial bonus on Swim and Escape Artist checks. They use their Dexterity modifier for Swim checks. A castorocauda can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if rushed or threatened.
Strategies and Tactics[edit]
Castorocaudas will never fight something larger than twice their size; against creatures smaller than that, however, they fight ferociously (and seemingly fearlessly). They are especially fierce against reptiles, such as snakes, turtles, and lizards. Most often, a "fighting" castorocauda is merely a trained pet attempting to play.
Ecology[edit]
Environment: Castorocaudas inhabit calm freshwater bodies, such as lakes, creeks, and ponds. Domestic varieties are also kept as pets outside of these regions; as their size, shape, and behavior are similar to those of a ferret, their dynamic with their owners are fairly similar. The primary differences are in their diets, and in the domestic castorocauda's need for some amount of water to play in.
Familiars[edit]
A wizard or sorcerer with a castorocauda familiar gains a +3 bonus to Swim checks. Alternatively, they may choose to replace this with a +3 bonus to Escape Artist. Once the desired benefit has been chosen, it cannot be changed.
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