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Tailypo

Tailypo
My Images (midjourney.com)

Appearance: The Tailypo, also known as Taileybone or Taily Po, is a creature of North American folklore, particularly in the Appalachian region. It is described as being the size of a dog, with dark fur that helps it blend into its nocturnal surroundings. Its most distinctive features are its glowing yellow or red eyes, pointed ears, and a long, sinuous tail.

Behavior: They are nocturnal predators, typically prowling the dense forests and shadowy valleys of its habitat under the cover of darkness. Known to be territorial and aggressive when provoked, often using their sharp claws to defend itself or attack prey.

Habitat: They are said to inhabit remote and secluded areas, far from human civilization. It prefers dense forests, deep caves, and rugged mountainsides as its habitat, where it can hunt and stalk its prey with stealth and cunning.

Modus Operandi: The Tailypo is known for its eerie behavior of demanding the return of its tail in broken, guttural English. Legend has it that the creature seeks revenge against those who have wronged it, haunting their homes and tormenting them until it can reclaim what was taken from it.

Motivation: The motivation of the Tailypo is rooted in vengeance and retribution. According to folklore, it relentlessly pursues those who have harmed it, driven by a burning desire to reclaim its lost appendage. Its haunting cries for its “tailypo” echo through the night, striking fear into the hearts of those who dare to cross its path.

Additional Notes: While the exact origins and nature of the Tailypo vary from one telling to another, its presence in Appalachian folklore serves as a cautionary tale against greed, cruelty, and the consequences of provoking forces beyond human understanding.


  • Tailypo 5e
  • Tailypo Pathfinder (Homebrew)
Tailypo
My Images (midjourney.com)

Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil


Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points: 75 (10d8 + 30)

Speed: 40 ft., climb 30 ft.


STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
16 (+3)18 (+4)16 (+3)8 (-1)12 (+1)10 (+0)

Skills: Stealth +7, Perception +4

Damage Resistances: Necrotic

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages: Understands Common, but can barely speak

Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)


Keen Smell. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.

Spider Climb. It can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Pounce. If the Tailypo moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the Tailypo can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.


Actions

Multiattack. The Tailypo makes two claw attacks.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage.

Fearful Howl (Recharge 5-6). The Tailypo releases a terrifying howl. Each creature of the Tailypo’s choice within 30 feet of it that can hear it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the Tailypo’s Fearful Howl for the next 24 hours.


Legendary Actions

The Tailypo can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Tailypo regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Move. It moves up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Claw Attack. It makes one claw attack.

Fade from Sight (Costs 2 Actions). The Tailypo magically blends into its surroundings, becoming invisible until the end of its next turn.

Tailypo
Image from The Tailypo: A Ghost Story © Joanna Galdone and Paul Galdone. Accessed here

Stalking forth from the darkness is a beast that combines the features of a wolf, an ape and a big cat. Its paws bear some resemblance to human hands and its face is dominated by staring, owlish eyes and tall ears with tufts like a bobcat’s. A long and furry tail waves in the air behind it.

Taken from Creature Codex

Bestial backwoods predators, the hybrid creatures known as tailypos are far more cunning than their appearance would indicate. Their hunting strategy is unusual in that it involves a sacrifice of their own body parts, like a lizard shedding its tail. Any creature that takes the bait is stalked unceasingly by the tailypo, who strikes when its target is most vulnerable. They prefer to hunt sentient prey for the challenge, and their nimble paws allow them to open doors and use tools in order to terrorize and kill a victim.

They are territorial and drive away or kill other predators in their ranges, such as big cats, wolves and bears. Tailypos spend most of their lives in solitude, only meeting with others of their own kind in order to mate and raise offspring. A female will give birth to a litter of two to six cubs, which grow to maturity over the course of a year. Cubs are prized for their tracking abilities and can fetch up to 2,000 gp on the open market, but such purchases are highly risky due to their cunning and evil disposition. A tailypo grows to eight feet long, with about half of that length being tail.

Tailypo                 CR 3
XP 800

NE Medium magical beast
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +10, scent

Defense

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 natural, +1 Dodge)
hp 
26 (4d10+4)
Fort 
+5, Ref +7, Will +3
DR 
5/cold iron

Offense

Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d6+1), 2 claws +7 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks 
lure, pounce, rake (2 claws, +7, 1d4+1)

Statistics

Str 13, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 18 (22 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse
Skills 
Acrobatics +7 (+11 jumping), Climb +11, Perception +10, Stealth +11, Survival +4; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception, +4 Stealth, uses Dexterity to modify Climb
Languages 
Common
SQ 
track lure

Ecology

Environment temperate forests
Organization 
solitary or pair
Treasure 
incidental

Special Abilities

Lure (Su) As a swift action, a tailypo can shed its tail. All creatures within 30 feet of a tailypo must succeed a DC 14 Will save or be convinced that the tail is a delicious morsel and worth consuming as soon as possible. This functions as a suggestion spell at CL 4th. This is a mind-influencing effect, and the save DC is Charisma based. A tailypo grows its tail back over the course of a week, until which time it cannot use this ability again.

Track Lure (Su) A tailypo can sense the direction and location of any creature carrying or having eaten its tail as if it had cast locate creature, except that it can sense the creature up to a mile away. This ability lasts until the tailypo’s tail grows back.

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