Crystal Eye Mountain Lion

The Crystal Eye Mountain Lion is a variety of montane cougar native to the mountains surrounding the Crystal Eye. It stalks the Crystal Wood in search of prey, including deer, goats, sheep, rabbits, and more - including the occasional solitary traveller near the roads to and from High Hedgemont.
Mountain lion attacks against adult humans and especially groups thereof, are uncommon but not unheard of if game is scarce. More often, Crystal Eye mountain lions are weaponized by fae creatures looking to scare humanoids out of their deepwoods territories or, on occasion, hedge wizards with inscruitable motives. These forces use mind-controlled or summoned cougars as assassins, utilizing the creatures' natural stealth and ability to see in low light conditions to take their opponents by surprise. Transmuters and enchanters are well-equipped to undo these effects on ensorcelled mountain lions, whereupon the predator normally flees in fear.
The 'spirit cougar' is an undead abomination created by trapping the life-force of a mountain lion on the material plane through the arcane manipulation of ectoplasm. Spirit cougars are more dangerous than the mountain lions they were made from not necessarily because of their physical power, but because they attack with the ferocity and desperation of a creature that yearns with every fiber of its being to return to the peaceful slumber of death. These pitiful, profane creatures serve the whims of their creators without hesitation, attacking from stealth with frightening alacrity and pursuing opponents long after a normal mountain lion would have given up.

Geographic Distribution

• Crystal Wood

Mountain Lion, Common (15 xp)

S: 2 | D: 2 | E: 2 | I: 1 | P: 2 | C: 1 | A: 1
HP: 30 | PD: 2 | AD: 1
MA: 2 (4) | RA: 2
Skills: Stealth 1 (4/1)
CF: Hybrid Melee Attack (S/D)(2), Improved Sensory Perception (darkness)(1)
Syn: None

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Equipment

Pelt: 300 coin resale value

Description

This large, lithe feline is covered in tawny fur and glares at you with hungry, ice-blue eyes.

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Tactics

A Crystal Eye mountain lion will stalk prospective prey for miles from the safety of stealth - preferably at night - waiting for an opportunity to pounce with the benefit of surprise. It typically tries to attack any stragglers or weak-looking members of a group, especially any who become isolated. A mountain lion may chose to abandon an attack if it is going poorly, but individuals under compulsion rather than acting of their own accord may continue to stalk a previous target to wait for a chance to attack again.

Spirit Cougar (27 xp)

S: 2 | D: 6 | E: 2 | I: 1 | P: 1 | C: 1 | A: 2
HP: 54 | PD: 6 | AD: 2 (8)
MA: 2 (8) | RA: 5
Skills: Stealth 1 (7/1), Teleport 1 (8/1)
CF: Hybrid Arcana Defense (D/A)(2), Hybrid Melee Attack (S/D)(2), Non-Living (5), Improved Sensory Perception (darkness)(1)
Syn: SS DD EE II PP CC AA

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Equipment

Ectoplasm: 1200 coins value for crafting consumables, 600 coins resale

Description

This lanky feline creature comprised of a decrepit skeleton encased in sheath of translucent green or blue goo. Malevolent eyes of sickly teal flame glower forth from the creature's empty sockets.

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Tactics

A spirit cougar attacks from stealth as it did in life, but acts with blistering speed. The creature uses as many synergies as required to wear down an opponent before moving to the next, often teleporting out of and of stealth before an opponent can respond in kind. The spirit cougar often saves at least one Arcana or Dexterity synergy to allow for an escape via teleport should the fight go south, but will always be found to be stalking the targets from afar with the tirelessness of the dead, waiting for its synergies to recover before resuming the assault.