Nightcats:Bestiary
“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.
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Apex Predators
Tiger (Template)
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.
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River Predators
Crocodile (Template)
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.
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Pack Hunters and Scavengers
Jackal (Template)
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.
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Jungle Dangers
| 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. |
| 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. |
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The Green That Hungers
| 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. |
| 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. |
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Jungle Horrors
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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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.