[The Vorpal Tribble]

This is my entry into this year's UnCon Monster competition over on the Wizards website. Basically supposed to take a low-level MM monster and make it more powerful. So I chose... a dog.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Xoloitzcuintle


Enhanced, Divine Dog
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+6 (22 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 100 ft. (20 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (-3 dex, +4 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+4
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d8+3)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d8+3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Guide of the underworld
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/ epic, darkvision 120 ft., divine traits, fire resistance 10, immortality, low-light vision, scent, soothing touch, spell resistance 22, spirit senses
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +4
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 18, Cha 8
Skills: Jump +12, Listen +8, Spot +8, Swim +3, Survival +4*
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural Attack(B), Track(B)
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3+ HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: -

This appears as a completely hairless dog with dark greyish-blue or black skin whose almost comically ugly features shows the humbleness of their spirit. They are lean and compact with great agility and energy. They have large, alert ears and squinting slits for eyes that seem both wise and alert. Its snout holds only a few teeth, though those they do possess are of unusual sharpness.

Xoloitzcuintli is a canine of the gods, given as a gift to mankind to protect them from beings of the underworld and guide their souls when they die. They are simultaneously beast and deific, their mortal form living in flesh and blood while their spiritual form prowls the afterlife. As such their mortal form is alike to an avatar, though of the animal type despite their supernatural abilities.

A xolo weighs about 40 lbs and stands around two and a half feet tall at the shoulder.

Combat
A xoloitzcuintle is always alert of danger to the humans it watches over. It tends to bark ferociously, baring its razor teeth to drive off the intruder. If this is unsuccessful it leaps forward to bite and tear.

Divine Ranks: A xolo is considered to be a Rank 0 deity.

Guide of the Underworld (Ex): A xolo gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against the Undead and evil Outsiders. Likewise, they get a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against such creatures.

As well, a xolo's natural attacks are considered ghost touch weapons and if they bite a possessed (ghostly or demonic) being the spirit or demon takes half the damage.

Immortality: Xolos are naturally immortal and cannot die from natural causes. They do not age, and though they do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe, they go into a comatose state if they would otherwise die from the lack. If their physical body is killed they reincarnate within the womb of a pregnant xolo.

Immunities: Xolos have the following immunities. These immunities do not apply if the attacker is a deity of 0 or higher rank.

Transmutation: A xolo is immune to polymorphing, petrification, or any other attack that alters its form.

Damage and Drain: A xolo is not subject to energy drain, ability drain, or ability damage.

Mind-Affecting Effects: A xolo is immune to mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).

Soothing Touch (Su): A xolo can use Cure Light wounds and heal 1d4 points of ability damage to any one ability once per day. As well, it may remove any ongoing pain and pain effects to those its attitude is Friendly towards, filling them with a warm, soothing sensation.

Spirit Senses (Ex): A xolo can use its scent ability to smell incorporeal creatures and can detect one possessed by ghost or fiend. As well it gains the benefits of the Blindfight, Hear the Unseen and Spirit Sense feat.

Skills: Xolos have a +8 racial bonus on Jump checks.
*Xolos have a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Sample Encounters

Good Boy (EL 5): A xolo is protecting an abandoned barn in the midst of a dead field and seeks to drive off anyone who approaches it. The reason for this could be one of two things.

#1. A demon-worshiping cult has taken to using it as a secluded area for performing their horrible rituals.
#2. The ghost of a wandering farm hand was hung in this barn for murdering the master of the house and has come back for revenge.

Howling at the Devil (EL 15): All the xolos in the area have come together to form a great feral pack, attacking any who ventures outside their doors. Several children have gone missing as well and are said to have been eaten by the pack. Unbeknownst to the adventurers is that nearly the entire town has become possessed by demons and the child sacrifice caused the dogs to rise up against them.

-=-=-=-=-

Xolo in 3.75 stat block

Spoiler

Xoloitzcuintle


Xoloitzcuintle (show-low-eats-quint-lee) (CR 5)
Enhanced, Divine Rank 0 Riding Dog
Always N Medium animal
Init +3; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, scent, spirit senses; Listen +8, Spot +8
Languages None
________________________________________

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; (-3 dex, +4 natural)
HP 22 (2 HD); DR 10/epic
Immune ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, polymorphing, petrification
Resist fire 10, spells 22
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +4
________________________________________

Speed 100 ft. (20 squares)
Melee 1 bite +4 (1d8+3)
Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +2; Grp +4
Atk Options guide of the underworld
Special Actions -
________________________________________

Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 18, Cha 8
SQ divine traits, immortality, soothing touch
Feats alertness, improved natural attack(B), track(B)
Skills Jump +12, Listen +8, Spot +8, Swim +3, Survival +4*
________________________________________

Divine Ranks: A xolo is considered to be a Rank 0 deity.

Guide of the Underworld (Ex): A xolo gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against the Undead and evil Outsiders. Likewise, they get a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against such creatures.

As well, a xolo's natural attacks are considered ghost touch weapons and if they bite a possessed (ghostly or demonic) being the spirit or demon takes half the damage.

Immortality: Xolos are naturally immortal and cannot die from natural causes. They do not age, and though they do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe, they go into a comatose state if they would otherwise die from the lack. If their physical body is killed they reincarnate within the womb of a pregnant xolo.

Immunities: Xolos have the following immunities. These immunities do not apply if the attacker is a deity of 0 or higher rank.

Transmutation: A xolo is immune to polymorphing, petrification, or any other attack that alters its form.

Damage and Drain: A xolo is not subject to energy drain, ability drain, or ability damage.

Mind-Affecting Effects: A xolo is immune to mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).

Soothing Touch (Su): A xolo can use Cure Light wounds and heal 1d4 points of ability damage to any one ability once per day. As well, it may remove any ongoing pain and pain effects to those its attitude is Friendly towards, filling them with a warm, soothing sensation.

Spirit Senses (Ex): A xolo can use its scent ability to smell incorporeal creatures and can detect one possessed by ghost or fiend. As well it gains the benefits of the Blindfight, Hear the Unseen and Spirit Sense feat.

Skills: Xolos have a +8 racial bonus on Jump checks.
*Xolos have a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.
________________________________________

Strategies and Tactics
A xoloitzcuintle is always alert of danger to the humans it watches over. It tends to bark ferociously, baring its razor teeth to drive off the intruder. If this is unsuccessful it leaps forward to bite and tear.

Sample Encounters

Good Boy (EL 5): A xolo is protecting an abandoned barn in the midst of a dead field and seeks to drive off anyone who approaches it. The reason for this could be one of two things.

#1. A demon-worshiping cult has taken to using it as a secluded area for performing their horrible rituals.
#2. The ghost of a wandering farm hand was hung in this barn for murdering the master of the house and has come back for revenge.

Howling at the Devil (EL 15): All the xolos in the area have come together to form a great feral pack, attacking any who ventures outside their doors. Several children have gone missing as well and are said to have been eaten by the pack. Unbeknownst to the adventurers is that nearly the entire town has become possessed by demons and the child sacrifice caused the dogs to rise up against them.

Ecology
Xoloitzcuintli is a canine of the gods, given as a gift to mankind to protect them from beings of the underworld and guide their souls when they die. They are simultaneously beast and deific, their mortal form living in flesh and blood while their spiritual form prowls the afterlife. As such their mortal form is alike to an avatar, though of the animal type despite their supernatural abilities.
Environment: Xolos are found anywhere human beings are.
Typical Physical Characteristics: A xolo appears as a completely hairless dog with dark greyish-blue or black skin whose almost comically ugly features shows the humbleness of their spirit. They are lean and compact with great agility and energy. They have large, alert ears and squinting slits for eyes that seem both wise and alert. Its snout holds only a few teeth, though those they do possess are of unusual sharpness.
Alignment: A xolo has little understanding of good or evil, chaos or law except for basic instincts. As such they are always true neutral.

Xoloitzcuintle Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (religion) can learn more about xolos. When the character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (religion)
DC - Result
15 - This is a Xoloitzcuintle, said to be a dog of the gods. This reveals its animal type.
20 - The xolo is said to be able to heal and remove pain. This reveals its soothing touch ability.
25 - The xolo was gifted to mankind to protect them from beings of the underworld and guide their souls when they die. This reveals its Guide of the Underworld and Spirit Senses abilities.
30 - The xolo is said to have a tough of the deity to it. This reveals its divine ranks, immunities and immortality.