Deceiver Kitten
Offspring of the Deceiver, quarter-sized with greenish-black catlike appearance and shoulder serpents
Basic Fantasy Field Guide Omnibus
| Armor Class | 13 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 1* to 4* |
| Number Appearing | 1d4+4 |
| Attacks | 3 bites (see below) |
| Damage | 1 pt snake bite, 1d2 panther bite for 1 HD 1d2 snake bite, 1d3 panther bite for 2 HD 1d3 snake bite, 1d4 panther bite for 3 HD 1d4 snake bite, 1d6 panther bite for 4 HD |
| Movement | 50' |
| Save As | Fighter: 1 to 4 (same as Hit Dice) |
| Morale | 8 |
| XP | 1 HD: 37; 2 HD: 100; 3 HD: 175; 4 HD: 280 |
| Treasure Type | none |
Highly sought after as pets by those unfamiliar with their true nature, these offspring of the Deceiver are a quarter the size of an adult, growing as they age and gain HD reaching full size after twenty months. They possess a striking greenish-black, catlike appearance with thick serpents growing from their shoulders.
The desire to own these creatures has turned many adventurers into poachers and driven numerous pet enthusiasts to try and capture them on their own.
In the wild, these kittens are always found in their lair and never wandering unless accompanied by a parent. Before the age of six months, when they possess no special abilities, they are never left unguarded.
As they mature, their hit dice (HD) and damage capabilities increase. Younger than six months old they have 1 HD, and their deception ability has not yet manifested. Between six and nine months, they have 2 HD, and from this age on they have the limited deception ability detailed above. From ten to fifteen months, this increases to 3 HD, and between sixteen and twenty months, they have 4 HD. After twenty months, they reach adulthood and are treated as standard Deceivers.
If any member of the litter is threatened, the kittens will swarm the attacker. Depending on the level of disturbance, the GM may decide whether one or both parents return to the lair to defend their brood.
Should a kitten be successfully abducted, domestication is impossible if it is raised alongside its littermates. However, when hand-reared alone, they may appear tamable. If their food, exercise, and social needs are fully met, there is a 70% chance they will obey their “owner” by the age of six months. This obedience does not extend to friends or associates of the owner, though these individuals will not be attacked. The chance of obedience decreases by 5% per month and must be re-rolled monthly, reaching 0% by twenty months. If even one of their three needs is unmet for a month, the chance of obedience decreases by 15% in the following month. If two needs are neglected, or the obedience roll is failed even once, the kitten will go feral.
At the GM’s discretion, a happy, well-cared-for kitten may hunt for or protect its owner. Conversely, a feral or uncontrolled kitten may flee, or attack its owner if the opportunity presents itself, depending on how it has been treated.