Hallowed lynx

Hallowed lynx

(Creature)

Type

Magical beast

CR

17

Environment

Any

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Source: Rise of New Thassilon, pg(s). 88–89

Hallowed lynxes are luminescent descendants of mundane lynxes manipulated by the Runelord Sorshen to become her pets and guardians. Of the few that still exist from the Thassilonian empire, most remain in stasis deep within ruins, although rumors and folk tales of the existence of brightly glowing cats in Varisia are sometimes attributed to or inspired by sightings of escaped survivors.

Appearance

A hallowed lynx resembles a mundane lynx and as such measures about two feet in height, three feet in length, and weighing about 35 pounds on average. Their size made them ideal indoor pets without compromising their ability to guard an area. Their primary distinguishing trait is a set of brightly glowing orbs of magical light that surround them.

Abilities

Without delving into "crunch", describe the capabilities of the creature and its defining abilities. This would include special attacks and defenses, but should not present any quantifiable information that would allow someone to use these abilities without the source material.

Ecology

A shining child when not bound to a hallowed lynx.

Hallowed lynxes were formed by conjuring shining children and binding them to mundane lynxes. The orbs that orbit a hallowed lynx are the residual manifestation of these beings, and a hallowed lynx can hurl them or temporarily release the creatures within.

Sorshen created other similarly "hallowed" creatures during her reign, but lynxes were her favorite and became a popular creature among nobles of ancient Thassilon. Most hallowed lynxes kept as pets lived lives of luxury and hunted for pleasure rather than out of necessity.

A hallowed lynx is more intelligent than its mundane counterpart and can eventually understand spoken languages and perform complex tasks. They are otherwise similarly solitary and stubborn as mundane lynxes. The few who survive outside of Thassilonian stasis live reclusively deep in the forests of Varisia, where they face few threats or predators. When they hunt or must defend themselves, they use their captive orbs to distract, debilitate, entrance, and outmaneuver their foes.