Cougar

Cougar

Species	feline
No. Appearing	1–2
Behaviour	presocial
Range	alpine, barrens, jungle, savanna, steppe, woodland
Size	7 ft. 10 in. long
Weight	200 lbs.
Intelligence	2
Armour Class	6
Hit Dice	3+1
Action Points	6
Max. Stride	26
THAC0	19
Hp/Die	d8
Attack Forms	3: two claws; fangs
Damage	claw (1–6), fang (2–12)
Special Attacks	pounce, rake, surprised only on a 1

Cougars, also known as a puma, mountain lion or even panther are solitary predators native to the Americas and parts of eastern Asia. They rely on stealth and careful positioning to close in on their prey, typically hoofed animals like deer. Cougars are incredibly adaptable and thrive in habitats with dense underbrush or rocky terrain, where they can move undetected, but they are equally capable of surviving in more open areas. These animals lead solitary lives, with males and females coming together only briefly to mate. Once the cubs are born, the female takes full responsibility for raising them while the male moves on, leaving the family dynamics entirely to the mother.

Cougars are highly adaptable predators, thriving in a wide range of environments, from dense forests and rugged mountains to arid deserts and expansive grasslands. Their versatility allows them to establish territories wherever prey is abundant, using natural features like underbrush, cliffs or outcroppings to their advantage. In gameplay, this adaptability makes cougars a plausible threat in diverse wilderness settings, keeping adventurers wary regardless of the terrain.

In combat, a cougar’s agility and speed make it a particularly challenging opponent. Their ability to close distances quickly and strike with precision means they can target vulnerable or isolated members of a party. Cougars often employ ambush tactics, stalking their prey silently before launching an explosive attack. This behaviour could translate into mechanics where cougars gain bonuses when surprising their targets or attacking from concealed positions.

Advantages

Slender and agile, cougars have powerful forequarters, a thick neck and a strong jaw. Known for their silence, they cannot roar but are formidable nonetheless. Their coat is typically tawny, resembling that of a lion, though their colouring can range from silvery-grey to reddish. These cats are incredible leapers, capable of springing upwards 18 feet into a tree from the ground. Cougars are also faster than most felines and, at the end of a charge, can leap four combat hexes, allowing them to close the gap with prey swiftly, even when stalking cautiously.

Cougars attack with both claws and fangs, using their formidable strength to overwhelm their prey. If they strike with both forepaws in a single round, they can follow up with two additional attacks by raking with their rear claws, each rake dealing 2–8 damage. Highly attuned to their surroundings, cougars are rarely caught off guard and are only surprised on a roll of 1 in 6, making them formidable predators in their natural habitat.

Beyond their predatory prowess, cougars are fiercely territorial. Encountering a cougar often signifies that the party has wandered too close to its den or hunting grounds. This territoriality can create narrative opportunities, such as tracking a cougar back to its lair to recover lost supplies, rescue a victim, or resolve a quest. The lair itself might include clues about the cougar’s habits, such as partially eaten prey or hidden pathways it uses to stalk its territory.

See Bestiary