Sandbox Encounters: Banth...

Good Afternoon, All:

For my next post in the A-Z Challenge, I will be posting a Sandbox Encounter focused on a dangerous ten-legged felinoid predator. B is for Banth.

Banth

Brief Description: The banth is a ferocious felinoid carnivore that prowls hills in search of prey, its protruding green eyes ever attentive to its environment as it hunts. Roughly the size of a horse, this ten-legged beast’s long lithe body is powerfully muscled and almost hairless, having only a great, bristly mane about its thick neck. The beast’s head is predominately mouth, with several rows of long needle-like fangs lining its jaws which open to a point far back of its tiny ears, revealing several rows of long needle-like fangs.

Encounter Groups: These are common encounter groups for this type of encounter.

• Novice (levels 1-3): 3 Banth Cubs, 1 Juvenile Banth. 2d6x5 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.


• Seasoned (levels 4-6): 10 Banth Cubs, 2 Juvenile Banths, 1 Banth. 3d6x10 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.


• Veteran (levels 7-10): 20 Banth Cubs, 4 Juvenile Banths, 2 Banths. 4d6x20 silver shillings, basic mundane equipment on the corpses of previous victims.

Stat Blocks: The following stats are provided as examples for inspiration. Please adjust as needed to fit your preferred gaming system and style.

• Banth Cub: AC 7 [12]; HD 2; Atk: bite (1d6); ST: 16; SP: none; MV: 12; CL 2; XP 30.


• Juvenile Banth: AC 5 [14]; HD 6; Atk: bite (1d8), two claws (1d4); ST: 11; SP: pounce (can make both claw attacks at the end of a charge); MV: 12; CL 7; XP 600.


• Banth: AC 3 [16]; HD 10; Atk: bite (2d6), two claws (1d6); ST: 5; SP: pounce (can make both claw attacks at the end of a charge); MV: 12; CL 13; XP 2,300.

Encounter Ideas: Here are six different scenarios related to this encounter type.

1. The pride of banth are returning to their lair after an unsuccessful hunt.


2. The pride of banth are patrolling the region, defending their territory from intruders.


3. The pride of banth are chasing another group of creatures.


4. The pride of banth have cornered or surrounded a wounded herbivore, which is now defending itself desperately.


5. The pride of banth are sleeping after a successful hunt, and do not take kindly to being interrupted.


6. The banth are actually of two different prides, and are confronting one another over their territory when the party comes upon the scene.

Enjoy,
Flynn