[Critter] Shanu

Shanu are tyny, meek, and innocuous herbivores that tend to live in trees and amid rocks—anywhere they can hide or quickly climb out of harm’s way. However, they are also found in the company of humans and other creatures because they make excellent companions and pets.
“As lucky as a shanu” is a common phrase, but it’s a misappropriation. Many people believe that shanu manipulate probability. This isn’t the case, but shanu can help chosen allies that they hope will defend them against aggressors.
 
Combat: Shanu flee rather than fight. They can nip, but beyond that, they have little means of inflicting damage. Their real talent is enhancing the abilities of other creatures. Their primary means of defense is finding an ally and making her more powerful. At the cost of 1 point of health, a shanu can decrease the difficulty of its ally’s next action by one step. The creature accomplishes this through an unconscious use of telepathy, enhancing the skill and knowledge of the ally.
 
Shanu are incredibly resilient, regenerating 1 point of health per hour. Even the most injured or exhausted shanu is up and fully functional after a night’s rest.
Interaction: Shanu are extremely clever little creatures. They do not speak, but they can learn to understand an extensive vocabulary of words. They are always on the lookout for a powerful ally to protect them, and when they find one, they remain fiercely loyal to it. The ally’s behavior doesn’t matter as long as it protects them, so a shanu might be the companion of a noble knight, a horrible abhuman chieftain, a callerail, or even an accelerator.
Use: Shanu can be trained to follow a variety of commands. Their front paws are almost human and can grip small objects. They are excellent climbers and have particularly sharp senses. It’s not uncommon to see them perched on the shoulder of another creature.