Giant porcupines were a larger than normal species of the rodents known as porcupine.[1][2]
Description[]
Giant porcupines were largely identical to the mundane, brown variety of porcupine, though their quills was far more noticeable.[1] Quills were stiff, sharp hairs that lined their backs.[1] Their bodies were covered in around three-hundred quills, with their tails in particular having around eighty. Each of these quills measured 3 feet (0.91 meters) in length.[1][2] Their paws made them very skilled at climbing trees.[1]
Behavior[]
These creatures had only a base, animal level of intelligence, but were relatively non-aggressive unless threatened.[1][2] Being very timid and prone to panic,[1] they tended to view creatures within 30 ft (9.1 m) of them as potential threats.[1][2] Whenever a creature came within that range, giant porcupines would crouch down in a defensive posture and utter a warning hiss. If the creature continued to approach them, they were liable to either run away or defend themselves.[1]
Combat[]
Much like their smaller cousins, giant porcupines defended themselves by launching the quills from their tails at enemies like projectiles. In dire situations they would resort to even biting an opponent.[1][2] They were capable of shooting their quills at enemies from up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) away.[1]
Ecology[]
Much like their smaller cousins, these creatures lived in family units. Though willing to socialize with others, they preferred remaining with their family unit.[1]
Diet[]
Giant porcupines were a herbivorous species. They largely ate fruit, tree bark, and tree leaves. They were also very fond of salt.[1]
Habitats[]
Giant porcupines were primarily encountered in wooded areas,[2] particularly those in temperate climates.[1] For example, in Maztica they were known to be encountered all across its jungles.[3] In Faerûn they could be found in the forest of Starwood[4] and Semberholme.[5]
They could also be found in the Goblin Marches and Stonelands, being one the few monstrously sized species that remained following the goblinoids' settlement of the area.[6]
In the region of Anauroch they could be found in the fertile areas of the Plain of Standing Stones.[7]
Outside of the Prime Material plane, giant porcupines inhabited the Celestial Bureaucracy's plane of Qui.[8]
Relationships[]
Giant porcupines had very few predators.[1]
Those that lived in the Plain of Standing Stones were occasionally hunted by hill giants.[7]
Usage[]
Much like their smaller cousins, in the 14th century DR there were no known potion or spell applications for the material components that could be harvested from giant porcupines.[1]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (August 1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 79. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Tim Beach (September 1991). Fires of Zatal. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 1-5607-6139-3.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “The Stonelands and the Goblin Marches”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Anauroch”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 13, 15. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1990). Test of the Samurai. (TSR, Inc), p. 51. ISBN 0-88038-775-0.