Foo lions were a variety of foo creature.[3][4][1] They were seen as symbols of strength and courage in Kara-Tur[3][1] and by good beings across the planes.[4]
Description[]
Like all foo creatures, foo lions were four-legged beasts with large, flat heads and big eyes,[3][4][6] with leonine bodies about seven feet long.[3][4] Foo lions had a shaggy mane about their necks.[3][4][1] Their tails were longer and their mouths larger than those of foo dogs.[3][4][1][6] Their thick fur was usually gold, black,[3][4][1][6] or orange.[3][4][1]
Foo lions sometimes decorated their manes with peonies.[3]
Abilities[]
Foo lions had all the supernatural abilities of other foo creatures. When they roared consistently for over a minute, the sound would occasionally summon one or two additional foo lions to their aid.[3][4][5][6]
Foo lions were exceptionally intelligent.[3][4][5][6]
Personality[]
Foo lions had similar personalities to other foos,[3][4] but they were especially known for their patience.[4]
Foo lions and foo dogs did not usually associate with each other, though they had no animosity towards each other.[3][4]
Combat[]
Foo lions attacked with tooth and claw, which caused more harm to evil creatures than non-evil ones.[3][4][6] Foo lions who were outmatched were likely to retreat to regroup. They favored sneak attacks and siege tactics more than foo dogs tended to.[4]
Society[]
In their extraplanar homes, foo lions lived either alone or in groups known as prides.[3][4] They spoke their own language and the language of foo dogs. They could also speak the languages of those humanoids with whom they frequently interacted.[3][4]
Ecology[]
Foo lions ate all manner of inorganic material, including gems and precious metals, especially enjoying silver and platinum.[3][4]
History[]
Traditionally, statues of foo lions guarded the homes of many official buildings in Kara-Tur. Some of these statues were enchanted by wu jen as a means of communicating with lions in their home planes and requesting aid.[3] The lions did not always answer, however.[4]
Kara-Turran nobles and military officials often embroidered emblems of foo lions into their robes.[3] The same was done by military officials in the Beastlands and Mount Celestia.[4]
Foo lions were once servants of the goddess Tyche.[7]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 3rd-edition Oriental Adventures suggests using the stats for a celestial dire lion for a foo lion, which has a CR of 7, but this does not account for the invisibility, Astral plane, Ethereal plane, and summoning powers of the foo lionshared in earlier editions.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 31, 63–64. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1560768623.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bruce R. Cordell (1998). A Guide to the Ethereal Plane. Edited by Michele Carter, Keith Francis Strohm. (TSR, Inc.), p. 64. ISBN 0-7869-1205-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 65–66. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
Connections[]
| Angel (any good alignment) | ||
| Archon (lawful good) | Guardinal (neutral good) | Eladrin (chaotic good) |
Arcadian avenger • Asura • Bariaur • Couatl • Einheriar • Foo creature (Foo dog • Foo lion) • Harmonious choir of the words • Hollyphant • Ki-rin • Lillend • Moon dog • Pegasus • Shirokinukatsukami • Sliver • Unicorn (Celestial charger)
Related Creatures
Aasimar (Deva) • Celestial creature • Half-celestial
Giant felines: Dire lion • Dire tiger • Giant lynx
Magical felines: Cath shee • Crag cat • Elven cat • Jaguar lord • Jana-nimr • Jana-qitat • Luck eater • Sabu lord • Swamplight lynx • Tressym • Water cat
Planar felines: Fey panther • Spectral panther
Humanoids: Rakshasa • Razorclaw shifter • Tabaxi • Wemic
Outsiders: Cat lord • Displacer beast • Foo lion • Hellcat • Leomarh • Leonal
Lycanthropes: Werecat • Werecougar • Werejaguar • Wereleopard • Werelion • Werepanther • Weretiger
Undead felines: Crypt cat