Giant Dwarven War Hound (3.5e Creature)

Giant Dwarven War Hound

Size/Type:	Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice:	12d8+65 (119 hp)
Initiative:	+2
Speed:	60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class:	20 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple:	+9/+26
Attack:	Bite +22 melee (1d8+12), Claw +16 melee (1d6+6), Crush +16 (1d8+6)
Full Attack:	Bite +22 melee (1d8+12), Claw +16 melee (1d6+6), Crush +16 (1d8+6)
Space/Reach:	10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks:	Trip, Improved Grab, Pounce, Rake, Rend
Special Qualities:	Low-light vision, scent
Saves:	Fort +15, Ref +9, Will +10
Abilities:	Str 34, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills:	Hide +5, Listen +10, Move Silently +4, Spot +10, Survival +6*
Feats:	Alertness, Run, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (Claws), Endurance, Diehard, Improved Natural Armor
Environment:	Temperate/Cold forests and mountains
Organization:	Solitary with their Master.
Challenge Rating:	10
Treasure:	None
Alignment:	Always neutral
Advancement:	12–18 HD (Large), 19-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment:	—

Giant Dwarven War Hounds imprint of their masters at a young age (just after being weaned from their mothers.) This bond is permanent and can not be changed to another master for any reason. This being said young dwarven warriors are taken to the kennels on their 7th birthday to form this bond with a newly weaned pup. The war hounds will then live with this dwarf for the rest of their lives. The boy and pup train, fight, study, work, sleep, eat and well let's just say they do everything together. They are trained to fight as a team receiving combat training from a master warrior and his hound. The hound and Dwarf must train for 50 years together before they are considered an adult and able to do combat. The Dwarven war hound will always find its way back to his master when separated as long as the hound is physically able to do so no matter the distance. The hound will push itself until death if need be to accomplish this. If the master falls in combat and is killed the hound will lay with his body and defend it will all furiosity. The hound will not leave for any reason not even food, so once the master falls the hound will make fortitude saves for 1 week with a +8 Loyalty bonus to fortitude. If the save fails or the week passes the hound will die along side its master.

Giant Dwarven War Hounds can grow to be as tall as 5' 3" or as short as 4' at the shoulder. They are 9-13 feet in length and weigh between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds. They come in a variety of colors and builds. Usually in the color ranges of white, black, brown, light brown, red, and dark red. They can be brindle, striped and saddle patterned. They come in builds from a tall slender fast build like a greyhound, massive muscular like a mastiff, to a stout and broad build like a pitbull. They also can be short, long and extra long haired. These traits are determined from region the hound is native and which breeds the dwarf city has stocked in its kennel.

The Giant Dwarven War Hound can be raised by any race/class as long as the player obtains the hound at a young age (according to her race) and as long as the PC/NPC and hound grow to adulthood together. The hound will not be effective in combat until it has trained with the master for the 50 years regardless of PC's age. So the hound may not be a wise choice for your race unless it is a long lived race.

Giant Dwarven War Hound's can be taken as a druid/ranger (or by having the feat Animal Companion) companion at the same level range the Dire wolf can be taken.

COMBAT

Giant Dwarven War Hounds fight with their master much like a modern police officer and a K-9 unit, both are trained protect each other. This being said an adult war hound will automatically know the tricks Attack, Come, Defend, Down, Fetch, Guard, Heel, Seek, Stay, and Track. The animal is only able to learn combat riding in addition to this no other tricks can be trained or learned. You must roleplay this with your DM prior to the start of your adventure.

Trip (Ex): A Giant Dwarven War Hound that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip its opponent (+22 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the Giant Dwarven War Hound.

Skills: A Giant Dwarven War Hound has a +6 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Sense Motive, and Spot checks.

*It also has a +6 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

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