Shotalashu

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Shotalashus¹ are large reptilian magical beasts native to Castrovel. They can form telepathic connections much like the lashuntas of Castrovel, and as such often serve as enthusiastic mounts to lashuntas²³ or even to non-telepathic creatures, especially after planet-traveling elves and lashuntas introduced shotalashus to Golarion in small numbers.⁴³

Appearance

A shotalashu, which averages more than 10 feet in length and 1,000 pounds in weight, has reptilian features with a long neck and thick, whip-like tail. Its body is built for speed and power, with muscular hind quarters and shoulders.²

Abilities

Shotalashus are at home in dense jungles and move easily through them and leap upon their prey.²³ The supernatural occult magic of their innate telepathic sensitivity makes them adept mounts, especially for telepaths, but also deepens the loss and pain when a shotalashu or its rider dies while bonded.²⁴³ The shotalashu hunts by using its telepathy to slow or immobilize prey, or even to inflict mental damage.⁴³

On Castrovel

While the telepathic bond between a lashunta rider and their shotalashu mount is effortless, few lashuntas form lifelong bonds with a single mount. However, the death of a bonded mount can cause psychic damage that heals slowly,² while a bonded rider's death can make a shotalashu difficult to communicate with and resistant to bonding with a new rider.²⁴³

References

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↑ In Pathfinder First Edition, the singular and plural forms of "shotalashu" were the same. In Pathfinder Second Edition, the plural form is "shotalashus". Occult Bestiary, Distant Worlds, and People of the Stars also used a separate term with inappropriate real-world connotations as an abbreviated form which has not appeared in subsequent works.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Josh Colon, et al. Occult Bestiary, 53. Paizo Inc., 2015
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 James Case, et al. “Shotalashu” in Howl of the Wild, 180. Paizo Inc., 2024
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 James Case, et al. “Animal Companions” in Howl of the Wild, 92. Paizo Inc., 2024

[1] In Pathfinder First Edition, the singular and plural forms of "shotalashu" were the same. In Pathfinder Second Edition, the plural form is "shotalashus". Occult Bestiary, Distant Worlds, and People of the Stars also used a separate term with inappropriate real-world connotations as an abbreviated form which has not appeared in subsequent works.

[occult-bestiary-53-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Josh Colon, et al. Occult Bestiary, 53. Paizo Inc., 2015

[howl-of-the-wild-180-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 James Case, et al. “Shotalashu” in Howl of the Wild, 180. Paizo Inc., 2024

[howl-of-the-wild-92-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 James Case, et al. “Animal Companions” in Howl of the Wild, 92. Paizo Inc., 2024

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LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE