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Tamed Crag-Cat - AI-generated fantasy Monster

Tamed Crag-Cat

The Crag-Cat is often mistaken for a mere beast, but wizards have long noted its innate resistance to the weave. Bandits have learned that while a horse will bolt at the smell of a cat, a stagecoach driver will panic when one lands on the roof of his carriage with the force of a falling boulder.

Monsters
Large monstrosity · Medium · Uncommon

Tamed Crag-Cat

A mountain predator trained by highwaymen to act as a living shock-and-awe weapon during stagecoach robberies.
AC13
HP34/34
CRMedium
Init
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
ConditionsNone

Combat

AC 13 · HP 34 · Medium

Tamed Crag-Cat

Large monstrosity (feline), unaligned
Armor Class13
Hit Points34 (4d10 + 12)
Speed
40 ft.,
Climb 30 ft.
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Saving ThrowsDexterity
SkillsPerceptionStealth
Damage Resistances
None
Immunities
None
Weaknesses
None
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft.,
Passive Perception 14
Languages
None (understands training commands in Common)
ChallengeMedium
Proficiency Bonus+2
Nondetection. The cat cannot be targeted or detected by any divination magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors.
Spell Turning. The cat has advantage on saving throws against any spell that targets only the cat (not in an area of effect). If the cat's saving throw succeeds and the spell is of 4th level or lower, the spell has no effect on the cat and instead targets the caster.
Pounce. If the cat moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the cat can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 () piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 () slashing damage.
Crushing Drop. If the cat falls at least 10 feet and lands in a space occupied by a creature or vehicle, it takes no falling damage and the target must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the target takes 7 () bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone or (if a vehicle) its driver must make a Animal Handling check to prevent the draft animals from panicking.

Reactions

Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker that the cat can see hits it with an attack, the cat can use its reaction to halve the attack's damage.
Role
Shock Skirmisher
Built for
2 to 3

Gear

  • Reinforced Bandit Harness (Barding, 25 gp)A harness that allows a rider to stay mounted during a vertical climb.

Feats

Athlete

Augmentations

Conditioned Loyalty: Immune to the Frightened condition while within 30 feet of its handler.

Notes for the game master

Remember that Spell Turning is very dangerous for low-level casters using single-target spells like Tasha's Hideous Laughter or Ray of Sickness.

Tactics

  1. Opening

    The cat waits on a ledge at least 15 feet above the road. When the stagecoach is directly beneath, it uses Crushing Drop to land on the roof.

  2. Mid-fight

    Once the horses are panicked, the cat leaps down to attack guards or heroes who attempt to stabilize the coach.

  3. End of the fight

    If the bandits are defeated, the cat focuses on protecting the closest handler, positioning itself between them and the players.

  4. Retreat

    If its handler is killed or if the cat drops below 10 HP, it will attempt to flee by climbing vertically up the nearest rock face where characters cannot follow.

How it fights

Always use the Pounce feature by backing up and charging back in.
Target the coach horses with a Frightful Roar (or flavor its presence as such) to cause a crash.
Stay near rock walls to utilize its higher Stealth bonus.

Who it attacks first

Draft animals (to stop the vehicle)
Ranged attackers (to eliminate threats to its climb)
Magic users (to exploit Spell Turning)

Works well with

Bandit Crossbowmen: The cat keeps targets prone and pinned while archers pick them off from the cliffs.
Bandit Captain: The Captain's 'Lure' or movement commands allow the cat to reposition for more Pounces.

How to beat it

Spells with an Area of Effect (Fireball, Sleep) ignore Spell Turning.
Forcing the cat into open terrain reduces its Stealth significantly.
Calming the draft animals early can negate the cat's primary strategic purpose.

Ways to avoid a fight

Players can attempt a DC 18 Animal Handling check to calm the cat if the handler is killed.
The cat can be distracted by large amounts of raw meat (at least 10 lbs).

Ecology

This massive feline has thick, mottled grey fur that mimics the texture of granite and limestone. It possesses tufted ears, a heavy, muscular build, and paws the size of dinner plates with retractable black claws. It wears a rugged leather harness reinforced with iron rings, used by bandits to steer its movements or secure it during steep climbs.

Behavior

Unlike its wild counterparts, this Crag-Cat is conditioned to ignore the scent of humans. It remains perfectly still on high ledges until it hears a specific whistle from its handlers. It is trained to prioritize landing on wooden structures or directly in front of draft animals to cause maximum panic.

How it lives

Originally native to cold, rocky peaks, these cats have been captured and broken by the 'Peak-Runner' bandits. Their natural ability to reflect magic and remain hidden from divination makes them the perfect tool for ambushing high-value magical targets or noble couriers.

Lair

Usually kept in dark caves near bandit hideouts or tethered to heavy iron stakes in roadside camps.

Habitat
High mountain passes, rocky canyons, and narrow cliff-side roads.

Signs that it is near

Deep claw marks on the roofs of derelict carriages
Pungent smell of musk and cold stone
The eerie silence of mountain goats fleeing the area
Tufts of thick grey fur caught on low-hanging branches

Tags

Mountain,
Beast-like,
Raider

Lore

The Crag-Cat is often mistaken for a mere beast, but wizards have long noted its innate resistance to the weave. Bandits have learned that while a horse will bolt at the smell of a cat, a stagecoach driver will panic when one lands on the roof of his carriage with the force of a falling boulder.

What drives it

To please its handler for the reward of fresh meat and to defend its masters from those who strike back.

After the fight

If the cat survives but its masters die, it may haunt the pass as a rogue predator, using its bandit training to ambush travelers out of habit.

Variants

Feral Crag-Cat: Higher damage but no loyalty to handlers.
Alpha Crag-Cat: Increase HP to 55 and CR to 3.

Hooks

Plot hooks

The local stagecoach guild offers a bounty for the 'Grey Shadow' that has been causing carriage crashes.
A noble's prize Crag-Cat was stolen and trained by bandits; they want it returned alive.
A wizard is curious why his spells are bouncing off the bandits and hires the party to investigate.

How to use it

The 'Hammer': The bandits initiate with a landslide, and the cat is the follow-up strike.
The 'Scare': The cat is used only to flip the coach, after which the bandits negotiate from a position of strength.

Treasure

Crag-Cat Hide (worth 50 gp to a leatherworker)
Heavy Silver Whistle (used by the handler, worth 15 gp)
The bandit harness

Connections

Ancestry

Monstrosity

Media

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