Revision as of 22:20, 11 April 2026

Bestiary of Jhelum

The lands beyond the walls of the great cities are not empty. They are occupied with an abundance of life: some beautiful, some terrible, some fearsome beyond all imagining.

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

Apex Predators

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 or pins a target on a surprise hit.

Variants

Leopard / Black Panther — Lifeblood 12, Agility 4.
Man-Eater — Gains 1 Bonus Die vs humans.
Old Tiger — Mind 2.
Ash Tiger — Burning Wounds; Fearless.

River Predators

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: Inflicts extra harm against grappled prey in water.

Variants

Gharial — Strength 3, Agility 2, Damage 1d6; Bonus Die to snatch small prey.
Giant Crocodile — Strength 5, Lifeblood 22, Protection 3.
Temple Crocodile — Mind 1.

Pack Hunters and Scavengers

Jackal

The edge of hunger

Jackals live where death is near.

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.

Variants

Dhole — Lifeblood 8; Pack always active.
Wolf — Strength 2, Lifeblood 9.
Hyena — Strength 2, Lifeblood 10, Protection 1; ignores 1 Protection.

Jungle Dangers

Python

A branch that tightens

Most who die to a python never knew it was there.

Strength	3
Agility	1
Mind	0
Lifeblood	16
Protection	1
Damage	1d6
Traits	Grapple: Seizes a target on a hit. Constrict: Inflicts damage each round while holding a victim.

Variants

Tree Python — Agility 2; Bonus Die from above.
River Python — Protection 2.
Giant Python (40 ft) — Strength 4, Lifeblood 20, Protection 2.
Swallower Python — If a victim is helpless, may consume them whole over several rounds.

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: Inflicts extra harm to prone targets.

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 trapped.

Giant Jawed Plant

A mouth that waits

It does not move. It does not chase.

It waits for something to step too close.

Strength	4
Agility	0
Mind	0
Lifeblood	18
Protection	2
Damage	1d6H
Traits	Snap Trap: Strikes with 1 Bonus Die when triggered. Digest: Inflicts damage each round on trapped victims.

Devils Pitcher

Strength	2
Agility	0
Mind	0
Lifeblood	10
Protection	1
Damage	1d6
Traits	Trap: Requires a test to escape once inside. Dissolving Sap: Inflicts damage each round while trapped.

Needle Thorn Creepers

Strength	1
Agility	0
Mind	0
Lifeblood	8
Protection	0
Damage	1d6L
Traits	Needle Thorns: Inflicts damage on contact. Fever: Causes sickness if untreated.

Poison Puffball

Strength	0
Agility	0
Mind	0
Lifeblood	6
Protection	0
Damage	1d6L
Traits	Spore Cloud: Imposes 1 Penalty Die in area. Poison: Causes collapse with exposure.

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 revulsion.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 = Bestiary of Jhelum =
-The lands beyond the walls are not empty.
+The lands beyond the walls of the great cities are not empty. They are occupied with an abundance of life: some beautiful, some terrible, some fearsome beyond all imagining.
-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 ==