The Reaper Beast

Larger than a warhorse, belligerent and trumpeting its fury, the reaper beast is one grass-eater to avoid.  Its long sharp snout acts like a reaping scythe, slashing clean through tall grasses and enemies alike.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The reaper beast has an immense body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. Females weigh 1,600 kg (4,000 lb) and males 2,400 kg (5,000 lb). The head-and-body length is 3.5–4.6 m (11–15 ft) and the shoulder height is 1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft). Its hairless, hazy gray skin falls into folds into the shoulder, back, and rump, giving it an armored appearance.
On its snout the reaper beast has an elongated snout with a serrated bone edge on both sides.  Its mouth lies underneath its snout, possessing an elongated tongue and flat horse-like teeth.

Genetics and Reproduction

Reaper Beasts are egg layers.  Female reaper beasts will generally lay a single egg at a time, although clutches of 2 to 3 eggs are sometimes found.

Ecology and Habitats

The reaper beast is found primarily in plains, grasslands and savannas.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The reaper beast is a herbivore, eating grasses and grains primarily.  It is how the reaper beast forages that give rise to its name: when foraging, the beast will swing its head from side to side, cutting down tall grasses with its sharp snout.  This action closely resembles a farmer with a scythe, reaping his hay.  The reaper beast then will eat the cut grasses from the ground.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The reaper beast is solo by nature; most beasts require a large territory to graze.  When two reaper beasts encounter each other, an exchange of trumpeting bellows occurs.  Usually, the reaper beast that fails to sustain the trumpeting yields way to the longer lasting beast, but rarely, the beasts will attack each other, using their sharp snouts to strike and wound each other.
Reaper beasts are notoriously aggressive and territorial, attacking on the slightest provocation.  In combat, the reaper beast will attack with its snout, slashing at its opponents with its sharp bony edge.  If crowded, the beast will swing its head from side to side, flinging smaller foes into the air and away from its head.  Those that approach from the rear are in danger of being kicked.

Domestication

Attempts to domesticate the reaper beast have generally failed.  The beast is considered too aggressive to be tamed, and attempts to raise a reaper beast from an egg have typically met with failure.  Rumors persist of a far-off land to the east where reaper beasts have been domesticated for agricultural and military purposes.  Most scholars assume these to be fanciful fictions told by sailors.

Average Intelligence

The reaper beast has average animal intelligence.

Game Traits: 12 HPs
Size Large: The reaper beast takes up four squares.
Sharp Snout: Test 3d6 against enemies within 10 feet of the reaper beast's head. The reaper beast can take a move action to change its facing, even to attack directly behind.
Reaping Snout: Test 2d6. On a success, all adjacent enemies are knocked back 15 feet. If those players pass a standard agility test, they land on their feet; otherwise, they fall prone.
Tough Hide: The reaper beast's skin acts like light armor.

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Lifespan

35 - 50 years

Conservation Status

Reaper beasts are rarely encountered in the Lands of Legend.

Average Height

shoulder height is 1.8–2 m (5.9–6.6 ft).

Average Weight

Females typically weigh 1,600 kg (4,000 lb) and males 2,400 kg (5,000 lb).

Average Length

The head-and-body length is 13–17 ft, including the snout.