A-to-Z Challenge, X: Xanther (New Oe/BX/1E Monster)

Looks like we're in the home stretch of the A-to-Z blogging challenge. And as I mentioned back on "Q" day, I knew X and Z would be tough. Honestly, I've had today's X post ready for quite some time (my regular readers may recognize today's illustration from an old Illustration of the Week post), and I've got Z locked and loaded. It's Y that I'm starting to worry about. I have some ideas, but nothing that's really grabbing me. (Note to self: consider a "grabbing" monster for Y.) As for the Xanther below, I'm not completely sold on the idea that this creature could use weapons but doesn't. It is mildly intelligent ("low" as opposed to "animal"), so I can see it as more of a barbaric humanoid that allows it ferocity to dominate its actions. I think when time allows, I may develop its ecology a tad more.

Xanther

DESCRIPTION Xanthers are orange fur-covered feline bipedal humanoids with tusks and compound optic lobes (like an insect.) They generally make their lairs in forested areas of temperate climates, but have been found in subarctic and warmer tropical climates as well. Their optic lobes give them almost 360° vision and eliminate any bonuses for attacks from behind (against a xanther.) Additionally, a xanther is surprised only on a roll of 1. While they are capable of using weapons, their deadly claws and ominous tusks are generally their weapon of choice. Should a xanther face an opponent too formidable to handle on their own, they are able to summon 1-3 great cats (lion, mountain lion, panther, tiger, etc.) indigenous to the area where the xanther is located, and then control them. Any great cat summoned by a xanther gets a +1 bonus to his morale while the xanther is present.

Oe/1E STATS FREQUENCY: Rare NO. APPEARING: 2-12 ARMOR CLASS: 4 MOVE: 18” HIT DICE: 9 % IN LAIR: 35% TREASURE TYPE: C, Q x 3 NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-12/2-12/2-8 or by weapon SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below SPECIAL DEFENSES: See below MAGIC RESISTANCE: 25% INTELLIGENCE: Low ALIGNMENT: Chaotic (neutral) SIZE: L (8-10’ tall) PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil Attack/Defense Modes: Nil BX STATS ARMOR CLASS: 4 HIT DICE: 9* MOVE: 180’ ATTACKS: 2 claws/1 gore or 1 weapon DAMAGE: 2-12/2-12/2-8 or by weapon type NO. APPEARING: 2-12 SAVE AS: Fighter: 8 MORALE: 10 TREASURE TYPE: C, L x 3 ALIGNMENT: Chaotic