Bestiary

Vyssian Royal Panther - By D. Schneider v.10 2021

Stats Description The Vyssian Royal Panther is a magnificent beast that lives only in the deepest woods of Vyssian territory. Little is known about the creature beyond its appearance and abilities. The most notable aspect of the Vyssian Royal Panther’s appearance is its third eye, which rests in the middle of its forehead. Arrayed vertically relative to its other eyes, this third eye is able to function as a regular eye. A male Vyssian Royal Panther is usually about 450 pounds and about 6 and a half feet from head to tail. It is covered in short, shiny black fur and for those who are lucky or unlucky enough to notice, their paws are very large and out of proportion to their frame. Heterochromia is common in this species. More often than not, two of its three eyes will be the same color, and the third will be a different color entirely.

Lore

The Vyssian Royal Panther is high sapient, and an adult Vyssian Royal Panther is capable of following conversations, connecting emotionally to other living things, and most famously, using Illusion magic. The panthers are extremely adept at illusion, and they can create and sustain multiple complex illusions at once. Scholars believe that the species’ power comes from channeling arcane magics through their third eye. They are known to camouflage themselves and their cubs, as well as duplicating themselves to throw off would-be poachers. Because of their abilities, it is impossible for the Vyssian government or any other researchers to get an accurate estimate of how many Royal Panthers are in the wild. For this reason, they are considered a protected species by the Vyssian government, and poachers often face decades in indentured servitude.

Vyssian Royal Panthers can attack 3 times a round with their claws and teeth, or they can attack with claws and teeth once and cast a wizard-rank illusion spell. Vyssian Royal Panthers live for a very long time, and each decade they live, they get noticeably larger and more powerful. They carry a base 175% chance to hit with their claws and teeth or cast an illusion spell. Their AR and MD is a base of -200%. The attack base increases by +25% for each decade they live. The defense base decreases by -30% for each decade they live.

Vyssian Royal Panthers may opt to evade all moves at an 80% chance for 1 turn. Royal Panthers will always know if they are faced with someone who has killed one of their kind, though the mechanic that this knowledge is transferred through is currently unknown. Injuring the Royal Panther’s third eye will cause a -100% chance to use magic successfully, but one must maim all three eyes of the panther in order to totally blind it. Royal Panther magic operates like arcane magic casted using the Asyndi method.