Gortheks

Basic Information

Anatomy

A Gorthek appears as a strange combination of bison and rhinoceros, with a thick leonine head crowned by ram horns and framed by shaggy hair. Its hide is thick, wrinkled, and extraordinarily difficult to pierce.

Genetics and Reproduction

Most often these are ordinary boars, bulls, or other strong beasts that have been brutally trained for war, but some Gortheks are hideous crossbreeds scarred by Orcish sorcery and spellcraft.

Ecology and Habitats

Gortheks live in small herds, grazing across grasslands and sparsely wooded hills.

Behaviour

They perceive almost everything else as a threat and will launch themselves at enemies, intent on sending them flying.

Additional Information

Domestication

Orcs commonly raise Gortheks from infancy as mounts and living siege engines. They are bonded with their future riders from a very young age, and Orcs have fashioned the Gorthek masks in order to magically facilitate this bond. In battle, Gorthek riders sit on a specifically designed saddle and control their mount with spiked reins.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Orcs often bond themselves to ferocious warbeasts that they call Gortheks, which may be mounts they ride into battle or simply trained fighting companions.

Scientific Name

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chimerida
Class: Mammalia
Order: Bestiarcha
Family: Boviceratidae
Genus: Leonorhinus
Species: Mythoboviceratus

Lifespan

8 years

Average Height

An adult male Gorthek stands about seven feet high at the shoulder

Average Weight

An adult male Gorthek weighs around 9,000 pounds.

This creature follows harvesting rules. Creature specific harvesting can be found here.

Gorthek CR: 3

Large beast, unaligned

Armor Class:

Hit Points: 85 ( 10d10+30 )

Speed: 40 ft

STR

23 +6

DEX

9 -1

CON

16 +3

INT

2 -4

WIS

11 +0

CHA

4 -3

Skills: Perception +2

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 12

Languages: --

Challenge Rating: 3 ( 700 XP)

Aggressive. As a bonus action, the orc can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.
Charge. If the gorthek moves at least 15 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a gore attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 7 ( 1d12 ) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be forced prone.

Actions

Gore. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 ( 1d12+6 ) piercing damage.

A gorthek appears as a strange combination of bison and rhinoceros, with a thick leonine head crowned by ram horns and framed by shaggy hair. Its hide is thick, wrinkled, and extraordinarily difficult to pierce. An adult male gorthek stands about seven feet high at the shoulder and weighs around 9,000 pounds.
Gortheks live in small herds, grazing across grasslands and sparsely wooded hills. They perceive almost everything else as a threat and will launch themselves at enemies, intent on sending them flying.
Orcs often bond themselves to ferocious warbeasts that they call gortheks, which may be mounts they ride into battle or simply trained fighting companions. Most often these are ordinary boars, bulls, or other strong beasts that have been brutally trained for war, but some gortheks are hideous crossbreeds scarred by orcish sorcery and spellcraft.
Orcs commonly raise gortheks from infancy as mounts and living siege engines. They are bonded with their future riders from a very young age, and orcs have fashioned the gorthek masks in order to magically facilitate this bond. In battle, gorthek riders sit on a specifically designed saddle and control their mount with spiked reins.

Suggested Environments

Grassland