Pygmy Triceraclops

The Cutest ... Dinosaur?

The cutest dinosaur you ever did see, the brightly colored pygmy triceraclops are three-horned, one-eyed dinosaurs with a broad bony frill on the backs of their heads. They compare in size to large dogs. In the wild, packs of pygmy triceraclops run in primordial forests, where their favorite food is tree fern. Notably, they each have a single large eye with which they can cast Charm. Charmed humanoids will treat the pygmy triceraclops as a friend, providing treats and scratching the hard-to-reach places behind the bony plates until the effect wears off.

Domestic Bliss?

Unlike their larger cousins, the greater triceraclops, pygmy triceraclops are social pack animals and relatively friendly to humanoids. Pygmy triceraclops are often kept by the Lizardfolk of Maapera as guard animals. (In an odd twist, the pygmy triceraclops has a much richer emotional life than the Lizardfolk they live with.) Other humanoids have found they make fascinating pets, but the pygmy triceraclops do not thrive as well in their care; they seem to prefer the Lizardfolk. Some Lizardfolk consider them freeloading pests, but their usefulness as guard animals usually overcomes the objections.

Who Watches the Watch...saurus?

Pygmy Triceraclops innate Charm ability makes them surprisingly good guards - more than one would-be thief in Maapera has been found in the morning, comfortably petting a group of little dinosaurs. They seem to include young Lizardfolk in their packs as a matter of instinct. They will escort the children of the village as they go about their errands in the woods. Their excellent hearing gives them a chance to herd the children back to the town if there is danger. If a threat cannot be charmed, they first try to avoid a fight, trumpeting the alarm the entire time. If cornered, or when protecting the children of the village, a pack of pygmy triceraclops will gang up on an attacker. The are surprisingly nimble and will surround the threat and attack from all sides. Maaperan predators that survive the experience once are not usually eager to risk it a second time.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Wild pygmy triceraclops lay small clutches of eggs in secluded parts of the forest. The whole pack will help guard them.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Pygmy triceraclops are omnivorous scavengers. They will eat meat if they find it, but will not typically hunt other animals for food, preferring to forage for tasty plants (or better yet, get a villager to forage for them.) One way to identify an area with pygmy triceraclops is if all the tree fern leaves close to the ground have been eaten.

Related Articles

Pygmy Triceraclops

Medium beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 11 (2d8+2) 2d8+2

Speed 40ft

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STR

14 +2

DEX

15 +2

CON

12 +1

INT

3 -4

WIS

12 +1

CHA

8 -1

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Skills Perception +3

Damage Resistances Bludgeoning

Senses passive Perception 13

Languages --

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Keen Hearing and Smell. The pygmy triceraclops has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The pygmy triceraclops has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the triceraclops' allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Kawaii! Charm Ray: Range, one target, 60ft. The targeted creature must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be overwhelmed with cuteness for 1 hour (treat as charmed). Recharge on 5-6. Target feels overwhelming urge to share snacks with the beast and its pack.
Run Away. Can disengage without provoking attacks of opportunity.

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Actions

Gore. The triceraclops is really disappointed in you. They thought you were going to be friends, but you made it weird. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.

In the wild, pygmy triceraclops are found in packs of 2d4+2 members. 2d4+2

Pygmy triceraclops are commonly found in jungles, tropical or temperate rainforest.

DRAFT

This article is currently a work in progress and may be incomplete or subject to change.