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“The jungle does not hate you.
“The jungle does not hate you.


It simply does not care whether you live.”
It simply grows over your bones.”
</div>
</div>


Line 14: Line 14:
They are occupied.
They are occupied.


What follows are not scholarly classifications, but what a survivor needs to know: how it moves, how it kills, and how to live long enough to tell the story.
This is not a scholar’s bestiary. It is a survivor’s ledger.


== How to Read These Entries ==
Each entry is a '''template'''. Most creatures in Jhelum are variations on these forms.


Each creature includes its '''Threat''', '''Habitat''', '''Behavior''', and what people most fear about it.
== How to Use These Creatures ==
 
The statistics use a simplified BoL format:


{| class="wikitable codex-table"
{| class="wikitable codex-table"
Line 26: Line 24:
|-
|-
| '''Strength'''
| '''Strength'''
| Power, toughness, and force
| Power and force
|-
|-
| '''Agility'''
| '''Agility'''
| Speed, stealth, and quickness
| Speed and stealth
|-
|-
| '''Mind'''
| '''Mind'''
| Instinct, cunning, awareness, or unnatural will
| Instinct or cunning
|-
|-
| '''Lifeblood'''
| '''Lifeblood'''
| How much punishment it can take
| Staying power
|-
|-
| '''Protection'''
| '''Protection'''
| Natural hide, scales, bark, or other inherent defense
| Natural armor
|-
|-
| '''Damage'''
| '''Damage'''
| The harm caused by its natural attacks
| Harm inflicted
|-
|-
| '''Traits'''
| '''Traits'''
| Short reminders of what makes the creature dangerous
| Short mechanical rules
|}
|}
 
== Beasts of the Jungle ==


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
Variants are handled by small adjustments, not new stat blocks.
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
[[File:NC_Tiger.png|400px]]
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Striped Tiger</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A death that arrives without warning</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
---
<strong>Threat:</strong> Deadly &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Deep jungle, river edges &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Ambush predator &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> You never hear it coming
</div>


The striped tiger is the unquestioned lord of the green dark. It does not roar before the kill. It appears, strikes, and vanishes into leaves and shadow with flesh in its jaws. When it attacks from concealment or leaps from cover, give it a '''Bonus Die'''. A tiger that gets hold of a man does not let go politely.
== Apex Predators ==


{| class="nightcats-stats"
=== Tiger (Template) ===
! Strength
| 3
|-
! Agility
| 3
|-
! Mind
| 1
|-
! Lifeblood
| 18
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6H
|-
! Traits
| Ambush; Pounce
|}
</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Deadly Cobra</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Temple shade and a raised hood</div>
[[File:NCStripedTiger.png|400px]]
</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Tiger</div>
<strong>Threat:</strong> Lethal if ignored &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">The jungle chooses</div>
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Ruins, temples, jungle shade &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Defensive, fast strike &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Death comes hours later
</div>


The cobra is feared in old stone places, in shrine courtyards, and in the cool shadows beneath roots and fallen masonry. It does not need great size. Its danger is speed and venom. If it strikes first from a coiled stance, give it a '''Bonus Die'''. Anyone bitten must test or begin weakening quickly.
A tiger does not hunt loudly. It watches, chooses, and ends the matter.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 3
| 0
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 3
| 3
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 18
| 5
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6H
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Venom; Fast Strike
| '''Ambush:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking unseen. '''Pounce:''' Knocks down, pins, or controls a target on a surprise hit.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
==== Tiger Variants ====
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Great Python</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A slow death in living rope</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
; Leopard / Black Panther 
<strong>Threat:</strong> Severe &nbsp;•&nbsp;
Lifeblood 12, Agility 4. Built for stealth over strength.
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Trees, ruins, riverbanks &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Constrictor ambush &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Slow death in silence
</div>


Many an explorer has mistaken one for a fallen branch or hanging root. That error is usually the last one he makes. A python that hits may choose to grapple rather than merely wound. Once it has a victim wrapped, it continues to crush them each round until they escape or someone cuts them free.
; Man-Eater 
Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking humans.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
; Old Tiger 
! Strength
Mind 2. Anticipates routines and avoids traps.
| 3
|-
! Agility
| 1
|-
! Mind
| 0
|-
! Lifeblood
| 16
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6
|-
! Traits
| Grapple; Constrict
|}
</div>
 
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">
; Ash Tiger 
Adds: '''Burning Wounds:''' Causes lingering harm after a hit.


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
---
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Sloth Bear</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Ill-tempered muscle and claws</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
== River Predators ==
<strong>Threat:</strong> Dangerous &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Jungle clearings &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Territorial, unpredictable &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> It mauls the face first
</div>


The sloth bear is not a hunter in the tiger’s fashion, but that does not make it safe. Startle one in the brush and it becomes a storm of claws, dirt, and pain. A wounded bear grows more violent, and the GM may give it a '''Bonus Die''' once it has taken a serious hurt.
=== Crocodile (Template) ===


{| class="nightcats-stats"
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
! Strength
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
| 3
[[File:NCRiverCrocodile.png|400px]]
|-
! Agility
| 1
|-
! Mind
| 0
|-
! Lifeblood
| 13
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6
|-
! Traits
| Frenzy
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Crocodile</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Monkey</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">The river takes</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Small hands, quick eyes, quicker theft</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Minor &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Jungle canopy, ruins, city edges &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Curious, noisy, opportunistic &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> It steals first and screams second
</div>


This entry stands in for monkeys generally, and can also cover langurs, gibbons, and similar tree-dwellers with minor adjustment. Monkeys are more nuisance than killer, but they are clever, fast, and often arrive in numbers. Give them a '''Bonus Die''' on tests involving climbing, snatching, or fleeing through branches.
The water does not warn you. It opens.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 4
| 0
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 1
| 3
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 1
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 18
| 6
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 2
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6H
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Climber; Mischief
| '''Ambush:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die when striking unseen from water. '''Death Roll:''' Grappled targets take immediate extra harm in water.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


</div>
==== Crocodile Variants ====


== River and Marsh Creatures ==
; Gharial 
Strength 3, Agility 2, Damage 1d6. 
Trait: '''Snatch:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die when grabbing small or lightly armored prey.


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
; Giant Crocodile 
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
Strength 5, Lifeblood 22, Protection 3.
[[File:NC_Crocodile.png|400px]]
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">River Crocodile</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">The river opening its jaws</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
; Temple Crocodile 
<strong>Threat:</strong> Deadly &nbsp;•&nbsp;
Mind 1. Does not flee humans.
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Rivers, crossings &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Patient ambush &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> The water takes you
</div>


A river crocodile may watch a ford for days without stirring. It waits for carelessness, for routine, for the moment when a traveler believes the crossing is safe because nothing has happened yet. If it attacks unseen from the water, give it a '''Bonus Die'''. A crocodile that grapples a victim in water may keep damaging them each round, and a larger one may roll and tear horribly.
---


{| class="nightcats-stats"
== Pack Hunters and Scavengers ==
! Strength
| 4
|-
! Agility
| 1
|-
! Mind
| 0
|-
! Lifeblood
| 18
|-
! Protection
| 2
|-
! Damage
| 1d6H
|-
! Traits
| Ambush; Grapple; Death Roll
|}
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">
=== Jackal (Template) ===


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Blood Leeches (Swarm)</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Jackal</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A hunger you barely feel</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">The edge of hunger</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Minor to deadly in numbers &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Still water &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Swarm feeding &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> You do not feel it happening
</div>


Leeches thrive where the water lies warm and quiet. Their danger is not in one bite, but in number, numbness, and the weakness that comes too late. As a swarm, they are awkward targets for normal blows; brute force against them may suffer a '''Penalty Die''' unless fire, salt, or some clever method is used.
Jackals live where death is near. One is nothing. Several are a decision.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 2
| 1
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 7
| 8
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6L
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Swarm; Drain
| '''Pack:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking with allies. '''Scavenger:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die to detect weakness or isolation.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
==== Jackal Variants ====
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Black River Catfish</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A shadow beneath muddy water</div>
; Dhole 
Lifeblood 8. Pack always active with 2+.


<div class="nightcats-tags">
; Wolf 
<strong>Threat:</strong> Dangerous &nbsp;•&nbsp;
Strength 2, Lifeblood 9, Damage 1d6.
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Deep rivers &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Opportunistic predator &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Something pulls you under
</div>


Some grow as long as a man. Most feed on refuse, carrion, and whatever the river gives them. The largest decide for themselves what the river ought to give. A big catfish that gets a good hold may drag prey off balance or into deeper water.
; Hyena 
Strength 2, Lifeblood 10, Protection 1.
Trait: '''Bone Crusher:''' Ignores 1 point of Protection.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
---
! Strength
| 2
|-
! Agility
| 1
|-
! Mind
| 0
|-
! Lifeblood
| 12
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6
|-
! Traits
| Drag
|}
</div>


</div>
== Jungle Dangers ==


== Creatures of Burden and Use ==
<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Great Python</div>
[[File:NC_Elephant_Caravan.png|400px]]
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Jungle Elephant</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">War, labor, memory, and wrath</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Massive &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Jungle, domesticated or wild &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Calm unless provoked &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> When it turns, nothing stops it
</div>
 
An elephant may carry wealth, kings, timber, or war towers, but it is never merely a tool. It remembers mistreatment. It remembers fear. When one breaks into fury, men vanish beneath its feet. A charging elephant may strike more than one nearby target, bowl people down, or simply crush what is in front of it.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 3
| 5
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 16
| 25
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 3
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6H
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Trample
| '''Constrict:''' Seizes and inflicts damage each round until freed. '''Ambush:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die when striking from concealment.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Water Buffalo</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Sloth Bear</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Slow strength until the charge</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Low to dangerous &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Wetlands, farms &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Passive, but charges when angered &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Sudden charge
</div>
 
The water buffalo is a beast of mud, carts, plows, and patient labor. Yet patience is not gentleness. Press one too far and it answers with horn, weight, and speed. If it has room to lower its head and rush, give it a '''Bonus Die'''.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 3
| 2
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 1
| 1
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 13
| 12
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 1
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Charge
| '''Frenzy:''' Gains 1 Bonus Die after taking a wound. '''Maul:''' May inflict an additional hit against a prone or stunned target.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


== Predators of Shadow and Story ==
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
[[File:NC_Black_Leopard.png|400px]]
</div>
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Black Leopard</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A ghost in the trees</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
---
<strong>Threat:</strong> Deadly &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Jungle canopy &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Stalker &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> It chooses when you die
</div>


More rumor than beast in many tales, the black leopard is seen only when it allows itself to be seen. Hunters speak of finding its tracks circling camp for nights before the strike finally comes. Spotting it before it attacks may suffer a '''Penalty Die''' in darkness, dense leaves, or broken ground.
== The Green That Hungers ==


{| class="nightcats-stats"
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
! Strength
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
| 2
[[File:NCStranglerVines.png|400px]]
|-
! Agility
| 4
|-
! Mind
| 1
|-
! Lifeblood
| 12
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6
|-
! Traits
| Stealth; Ambush
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Strangler Vines</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Wolf</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Lean hunger with yellow eyes</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Moderate &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Scrub, dry forest, hill country, fringes of the jungle &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Pack hunter &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> One wolf is a scout, not the danger
</div>
 
Wolves are less common in the deep green than in rougher country, but where the land opens they travel in hungry bands. A lone wolf is seldom the real threat. When several attack the same target, give them a '''Bonus Die'''.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 3
| 2
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 0
| 2
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 15
| 9
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Pack
| '''Immobilize:''' Prevents movement until freed. '''Constrict:''' Inflicts damage each round while held.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Jackal</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Devils Pitcher</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A scavenger with more nerve than dignity</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Minor alone, dangerous in numbers &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Dry country, ruins, cremation grounds, village edges &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Scavenger, opportunist, occasional pack hunter &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> They gather where death is near
</div>
 
Jackals are sly, restless, and seldom far from refuse, corpses, or weakness. One is a nuisance. Several become bold. In a group they circle, test nerve, and dart at the vulnerable.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 2
| 1
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 0
| 2
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 10
| 7
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Pack; Scavenger
| '''Trap:''' Requires a test to escape once entered. '''Dissolving Sap:''' Inflicts damage each round while trapped.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


</div>
---
 
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--beast">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Grave Hyenas</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Laughing scavengers of the dead</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
== Jungle Horrors ==
<strong>Threat:</strong> Moderate in a pack &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Battlefields, cremation grounds &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Pack hunters &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> They laugh while feeding
</div>


Grave hyenas are rarely alone, and never reassuring. Their cries carry badly through the night, like broken laughter or men speaking through torn throats. When they mob one target, give them a '''Bonus Die'''.
<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">


{| class="nightcats-stats"
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--sorcery">
! Strength
| 2
|-
! Agility
| 1
|-
! Mind
| 0
|-
! Lifeblood
| 8 each
|-
! Protection
| 0
|-
! Damage
| 1d6
|-
! Traits
| Pack
|}
</div>
 
== The Green That Hungers ==
 
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
[[File:NC_Devils_Pitcher.png|400px]]
[[File:NCGiantSpider.png|400px]]
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Strangler Vines</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">The jungle closing its hand</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Deadly &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Deep jungle &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Slow entrapment &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> The jungle closes behind you
</div>
</div>


These vines do not lash like whips. They tighten slowly and patiently, while the victim wastes breath, strength, and hope. By morning the path may be gone, and something may hang within the leaves. A caught victim cannot move until freed, and continues taking damage each round.
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Giant Spider</div>


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 2
| 3
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 3
| 0
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 10
| 15
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 1
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Immobilize; Constrict
| '''Web:''' Restrains targets until cut free. '''Venom:''' Forces a test or weakens the victim.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--sorcery">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Devil’s Pitcher</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Vampire Bat Swarm</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A flower that eats the unwary</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Lethal if trapped &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Wet jungle &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Passive lure &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> You fall in and never climb out
</div>
 
Sweet scent, slick walls, and a bright inviting bloom make the devil’s pitcher more dangerous than any roaring beast. It does nothing at all until something slips. Once trapped, a victim keeps taking damage until they escape or are pulled free.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 1
| 2
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 3
| 0
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 10
| 10
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 0
| 1
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6L
| 1d6
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Trap; Dissolving Sap
| '''Swarm:''' Suffers 1 Penalty Die vs brute attacks. '''Drain:''' Inflicts extra Lifeblood loss.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel-grid nightcats-panel-grid--two">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--sorcery">
 
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Giant Centipede</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Red Lotus</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Beauty drifting above still death</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Dangerous &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Still pools, temple tanks, marsh edges &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Passive toxin &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Sweet dreams, then silence
</div>
 
The red lotus is beautiful enough to invite reverence. Its fragrance drifts across still water, soft and almost holy. Those who breathe too deeply grow light-headed, dreamy, and slow to notice that their limbs no longer answer with proper speed. The GM may impose a '''Penalty Die''' on affected actions, and prolonged exposure may become outright poison.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 2
| 0
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 2
| 0
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 9
| 6
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 1
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Dream Pollen; Poison
| '''Venom:''' Forces a test or causes severe weakness. '''Horror:''' Imposes 1 Penalty Die from shock or revulsion.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--hazard">
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Needle-Thorn Creepers</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Poison Puffball</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Brush once, suffer all night</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Dangerous &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Thick undergrowth, ruined walls, jungle margins &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Contact hazard &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Fever follows the smallest scratch
</div>
 
At first glance these creepers seem no worse than any other bramble. Their danger lies in brittle thorns that snap beneath the skin and remain there. Hours later the wound burns, the flesh swells, and fever begins to speak in whispers. Anyone forced through them takes light damage and risks worsening sickness unless treated.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
{| class="nightcats-stats"
! Strength
! Strength || 0
| 1
|-
|-
! Agility
! Agility || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Mind
! Mind || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Lifeblood
! Lifeblood || 6
| 8
|-
|-
! Protection
! Protection || 0
| 0
|-
|-
! Damage
! Damage || 1d6L
| 1d6L
|-
|-
! Traits
! Traits
| Needle Thorns; Fever
| '''Spore Cloud:''' Fills an area and imposes 1 Penalty Die. '''Poison:''' Causes collapse after prolonged exposure.
|}
|}
</div>
</div>
Line 758: Line 379:
</div>
</div>


== Creatures Touched by Sorcery ==
---
 
<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--sorcery">
<div class="nightcats-panel-image">
[[File:NC_Ash_Tiger.png|400px]]
</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Ash Tiger</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">Fire that hunts on four feet</div>
 
<div class="nightcats-tags">
<strong>Threat:</strong> Deadly &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Ruins, burned places &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Supernatural predator &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> Fire that hunts
</div>
 
Ash tigers are said to walk out of burned temples and smoke-black sanctuaries. Their stripes seem to shift like ember-light, and wounds they leave behind do not close cleanly. Their attacks may continue to trouble a victim even after the first blow, and they do not fear fire, noise, or threats.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
== Using the Bestiary ==
! Strength
| 3
|-
! Agility
| 3
|-
! Mind
| 1
|-
! Lifeblood
| 16
|-
! Protection
| 1
|-
! Damage
| 1d6H
|-
! Traits
| Burning Wounds; Fearless
|}
</div>


<div class="nightcats-panel nightcats-panel--sorcery">
These are not balanced encounters.
<div class="nightcats-panel-title">Idol-Bound Beast</div>
<div class="nightcats-panel-subtitle">A body inhabited by something else</div>


<div class="nightcats-tags">
They are problems.
<strong>Threat:</strong> Severe &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Habitat:</strong> Temples, cursed sites &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>Behavior:</strong> Relentless &nbsp;•&nbsp;
<strong>What People Fear:</strong> It does not stop
</div>


Animals bound to carved spirits do not behave as beasts should. They do not flee pain. They do not hesitate. Their eyes burn with purpose that is not their own. An idol-bound beast keeps coming unless destroyed, physically restrained, or overcome by sorcery.
If the players treat them like enemies, they die.


{| class="nightcats-stats"
If they treat them like dangers, they live.
! Strength
| 4
|-
! Agility
| 2
|-
! Mind
| 1
|-
! Lifeblood
| 18
|-
! Protection
| 2
|-
! Damage
| 1d6H
|-
! Traits
| Unfailing; Fearless
|}
</div>


</div>
</div>

Revision as of 22:06, 11 April 2026

Nightcats
Nightcats


“The jungle does not hate you.

It simply grows over your bones.”

Bestiary of Jhelum

The lands beyond the walls are not empty.

They are occupied.

This is not a scholar’s bestiary. It is a survivor’s ledger.

Each entry is a template. Most creatures in Jhelum are variations on these forms.

How to Use These Creatures

Stat Meaning
Strength Power and force
Agility Speed and stealth
Mind Instinct or cunning
Lifeblood Staying power
Protection Natural armor
Damage Harm inflicted
Traits Short mechanical rules

Variants are handled by small adjustments, not new stat blocks.

---

Apex Predators

Tiger (Template)

File:NCStripedTiger.png

Tiger
The jungle chooses

A tiger does not hunt loudly. It watches, chooses, and ends the matter.

Strength 3
Agility 3
Mind 1
Lifeblood 18
Protection 1
Damage 1d6H
Traits Ambush: Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking unseen. Pounce: Knocks down, pins, or controls a target on a surprise hit.

Tiger Variants

Leopard / Black Panther

Lifeblood 12, Agility 4. Built for stealth over strength.

Man-Eater

Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking humans.

Old Tiger

Mind 2. Anticipates routines and avoids traps.

Ash Tiger

Adds: Burning Wounds: Causes lingering harm after a hit.

---

River Predators

Crocodile (Template)

File:NCRiverCrocodile.png

Crocodile
The river takes

The water does not warn you. It opens.

Strength 4
Agility 1
Mind 0
Lifeblood 18
Protection 2
Damage 1d6H
Traits Ambush: Gains 1 Bonus Die when striking unseen from water. Death Roll: Grappled targets take immediate extra harm in water.

Crocodile Variants

Gharial

Strength 3, Agility 2, Damage 1d6. Trait: Snatch: Gains 1 Bonus Die when grabbing small or lightly armored prey.

Giant Crocodile

Strength 5, Lifeblood 22, Protection 3.

Temple Crocodile

Mind 1. Does not flee humans.

---

Pack Hunters and Scavengers

Jackal (Template)

Jackal
The edge of hunger

Jackals live where death is near. One is nothing. Several are a decision.

Strength 1
Agility 2
Mind 0
Lifeblood 7
Protection 0
Damage 1d6L
Traits Pack: Gains 1 Bonus Die when attacking with allies. Scavenger: Gains 1 Bonus Die to detect weakness or isolation.

Jackal Variants

Dhole

Lifeblood 8. Pack always active with 2+.

Wolf

Strength 2, Lifeblood 9, Damage 1d6.

Hyena

Strength 2, Lifeblood 10, Protection 1. Trait: Bone Crusher: Ignores 1 point of Protection.

---

Jungle Dangers

Great Python
Strength 3
Agility 1
Mind 0
Lifeblood 16
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Constrict: Seizes and inflicts damage each round until freed. Ambush: Gains 1 Bonus Die when striking from concealment.
Sloth Bear
Strength 3
Agility 1
Mind 0
Lifeblood 13
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Frenzy: Gains 1 Bonus Die after taking a wound. Maul: May inflict an additional hit against a prone or stunned target.

---

The Green That Hungers

File:NCStranglerVines.png

Strangler Vines
Strength 3
Agility 0
Mind 0
Lifeblood 15
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Immobilize: Prevents movement until freed. Constrict: Inflicts damage each round while held.
Devils Pitcher
Strength 2
Agility 0
Mind 0
Lifeblood 10
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Trap: Requires a test to escape once entered. Dissolving Sap: Inflicts damage each round while trapped.

---

Jungle Horrors

Giant Spider
Strength 2
Agility 3
Mind 0
Lifeblood 10
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Web: Restrains targets until cut free. Venom: Forces a test or weakens the victim.
Vampire Bat Swarm
Strength 1
Agility 3
Mind 0
Lifeblood 10
Protection 0
Damage 1d6L
Traits Swarm: Suffers 1 Penalty Die vs brute attacks. Drain: Inflicts extra Lifeblood loss.
Giant Centipede
Strength 2
Agility 2
Mind 0
Lifeblood 9
Protection 1
Damage 1d6
Traits Venom: Forces a test or causes severe weakness. Horror: Imposes 1 Penalty Die from shock or revulsion.
Poison Puffball
Strength 0
Agility 0
Mind 0
Lifeblood 6
Protection 0
Damage 1d6L
Traits Spore Cloud: Fills an area and imposes 1 Penalty Die. Poison: Causes collapse after prolonged exposure.

---

Using the Bestiary

These are not balanced encounters.

They are problems.

If the players treat them like enemies, they die.

If they treat them like dangers, they live.

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