Catoblepas
- Habitat
- Dismal swamps and marshes
- Biomes
- +wetland
- Spawn
- solo, any
- Temper
- Slow and wary, lethally defensive
- Threat
- Severe
- Rarity
- Very Rare
- Move
- crawl.
- Special
- Gaze deals a heavy, sickening burst of damage plus a strong short-lived weakening debuff (not an instant kill); averting your eyes avoids it; tail strike briefly stuns for a couple of seconds
- STR23
- DEX6
- CON23
- INT4
- Health246
- Damage49
- Armor12
The catoblepas is a grotesque swamp-dweller with the bloated body of a buffalo, stumpy hippo-like legs, and a long, whip-strong tail. Its small, ugly head hangs low on a thin, feeble neck, and from its heavy-lidded, bloodshot eyes pours a sickening gaze. Solitary and slow, it wanders fetid marshes nibbling reeds, rousing to hunt only when hungry or threatened. It is no mere brute: semi-clever and long-lived, it sizes up intruders before striking, lashing with its tail to stun, then lifting its head to meet a victim's eyes with withering effect. Because raising that weak neck is an effort, it must choose its moment. A rare, feared encounter that demands averted eyes and quick, decisive force.
Behavior
- Plods through swamp grazing on marsh grass, hunting only periodically
- Stuns prey with a heavy tail lash, then hits it with its sickening gaze
- Struggles to lift its weak neck, so the withering gaze comes in bursts
- Mated pairs herd intruders into a crossfire of stares
- Wary and patient; studies armed parties before committing
Abilities
- Sickening Gaze. Meeting its eyes hits with a heavy, sickening burst of harm and leaves the victim badly weakened for a short while; averting your eyes is the only defence.
- Stunning Tail. A swift, powerful lash that briefly stuns for a couple of seconds and bruises.
- Slow Recovery. Must rest its feeble neck between gazes, leaving openings.
Drops & Crafting
- Thick warty hide
- Heavy bones
- Tail sinew
- Bloodshot eye-humour (alchemical / poison reagent)
- Tallow