Bestiary of Jhelum

The lands beyond the walls of the great cities teem 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

Tiger

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

Strength	4
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.

Big Cat 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

Crocodile

The water does not warn you. It opens and takes.

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 +1D6 extra harm against grappled prey in water.

River Reptile 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

Jackals live where death is near.

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

Wild Canine Variants

Dhole — Lifeblood 8; Pack hunts both night and day.
Wolf — Strength 2, Lifeblood 9.
Hyena — Strength 3, Lifeblood 10, Protection 1; ignores 1 Protection on victims.

Jungle Dangers

Python

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.

Constrictor Snake 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

A sloth bear is shaggy, bad-tempered, and much faster than it looks when angered.

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

Strangler Vines

What looks like jungle growth may already be tightening around something living.

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

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

The mouth of this plant is slick, sweet-smelling, and patient.

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

A brush against these thorns leaves more than scratches.

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

A careless step can burst these swollen growths into clouds of yellow death.

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

The web comes first. Then the shadow in its center begins to move.

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

They come as a cloud of wings, teeth, and shrill hunger.

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

Its many legs whisper over leaf mold just before the venom strikes.

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.

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