Leucrotta

The leucrotta is a magical beast which is an ugly mix of a stag, lion and badger, having the lion's body, badger's head and stag's legs. It is about 7 feet (2.1m) tall, and 9 feet (2.7m) long. It has cloven hooves, a leonine tail, and bony ridges for teeth. Most of the body is a pale beige, but its color darkens from grey to black towards the head. It has an overpowering stench. It dwells in old ruins and wastelands. Its temperament is as ugly as its appearance.

Characteristics
The leucrotta is hated by all, so it dwells far from civilization. Needing to favor both its hunger and appetite for causing pain and suffering, it goes to great lengths to kill whatever prey it can get in the ruined castles, craggy valleys and dreary caves in which it lives. The leucrotta hunts with its ability to imitate a variety of noises, the most common ones being a woman, child, or domestic animal in distress. Prey, presumably foolhardy heroes that hear the sounds, come to investigate, and then the leucrotta knocks them out and devours them. Injured leucrottas attack with a kick and flee. They are very sly. Sometimes leucrottas dwell in packs, pairs and family groups, but are not very social creatures, preferring gloomy solitude and sometimes extending their aggressive nature even to friends and family. Though leucrottas prefer live meat, they are not above eating carrion.

Sometimes leucrottas are enslaved by chaotic evil mages to act as guardians, but the creatures rebel at the first opportunity. Some druids believe them to be merely a mutated and hapless aberration, and try to protect them, but these are rare and generally thought mad. Leucrottas are valued by leatherworkers to make boots that enhance running. Their saliva is also said to be useful in love potions.

Leucrottas speak both a language of their own and Common. They are chaotic evil in alignment.

It is not unknown for male leucrottas to travel hundreds of miles in search of a suitable mate.