chimera
A chimera is a monstrous creature that combines the features and tastes of three creatures: a lion, a goat, and a dragon. While it is sapient, it tends to focus its cunning on acts of sadistic cruelty, either dominating and humiliating other magical creatures in its territory, or serving something bigger and meaner than itself.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A chimera's anatomy is a study in truly mixed-up biology. It possesses the hindquarters of a goat, the forequarters of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and one head each from the three aforementioned creatures. It stands 5 feet tall at the shoulder, measures nearly 10 feet long, and weighs up to two tons. The dragon head might be black, blue, green, red, or white.
Ecology and Habitats
A chimera favors temperate, hilly areas, staking out a territory as large as ten miles wide, preying on wild game and trying to drive off any rivals. Its dragon nature compels it to raid nearby settlements and accumulate a hoard, and its lion nature compels it to hunt and kill powerful creatures that threaten its territory, while its goat nature gives it a stubborn streak that compels it to fight to the death. Its greatest rivals are Griffins, Manticores, and Wyverns.
When a chimera hunts, it attempts to instill fear and confusion in its prey, often toying with its target long after it could have simply killed it. It prefers to ambush prey from above, spraying them with its breath weapon before swooping away for another pass, occasionally waiting nearby to savor their terror before pouncing again. That said, a well-prepared traveler can appeal to a chimera's greedy nature, offering it a bribe to add to its hoard in exchange for safe passage through its territory.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
A chimera's three heads give it remarkable awareness of its surroundings, making it nearly impossible for someone who sneak up on it unawares. Between its low-light vision and its potent sense of smell, a chimera can find prey or rivals with equal ease.
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