Buy me a coffeeDinosaur, Coelurus, “The Swift Shadow of the Jurassic Underbrush”
“Swift and deadly despite its small size, the Coelurus darts through the shadows, striking with razor-sharp claws before its prey even knows it’s there.”
Coelurus is a slender, lightly built dinosaur measuring roughly 10 feet in length. Its body is covered in sparse, downy feathers, with long, gracile limbs ending in sharp claws adapted for swift, precise strikes. Its skull is narrow with keen eyes set forward, suggesting acute binocular vision. The tail is long and whip-like, providing balance and agility during rapid pursuits.
Behaviour
This dinosaur is an agile and cautious predator, relying on speed and stealth rather than brute strength. Coelurus typically hunts alone or in small groups, using quick bursts of acceleration to ambush small prey. It is highly alert, often scanning its environment for threats or opportunities with sharp, quick head movements.
Habitat
It prefers open woodlands and lightly forested floodplains where its speed and maneuverability allow it to dart between trees and shrubs. It frequents areas with abundant small vertebrates, insects, and carrion. Its presence is often indicated by fleeting glimpses or sudden rustling in undergrowth.
Modus Operandi
Stalking quietly, using cover and its keen senses to approach prey unnoticed. It strikes swiftly with its clawed forelimbs, aiming to immobilize or kill small animals with precision slashes. When confronted by larger threats, it opts to flee, using its agility to evade capture. It scavenges opportunistically but prefers fresh kills.
Motivation
Survival drives Coelurus, motivating it to avoid unnecessary risk and focus on efficient hunting. It is territorial on a small scale, defending hunting grounds from rivals, but avoids conflict with larger predators. Its primary goal is to maintain energy for hunting and reproduction, staying elusive to predators and competitors alike.
Coelurus 5e
Coelurus 3.5
Coelurus
Small Beast (Theropod), Unaligned
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) • Proficiency Bonus +2
Armor Class 14 (Natural Agility)
Hit Points 27 (6d6 + 6)
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 12 (+1) | 3 (–4) | 14 (+2) | 6 (–2) |
Saving Throws: Dex +5
Skills: Stealth +7, Perception +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages: —
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Traits
- Keen Smell. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
- Nimble Escape. The Coelurus can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns.
- Pack Tactics. The Coelurus has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the Coelurus’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Actions
- Multiattack. The Coelurus makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage. - Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage. If the target is Medium or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be grabbed (escape DC 12).
Unique Actions
- Pounce. If the Coelurus moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and hits it with a claw attack, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the Coelurus can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Tactics
Coelurus relies on its agility and pack coordination to harass foes. It uses Nimble Escape to dart in and out of combat, targeting weaker or distracted enemies. When in groups, they use Pack Tactics to overwhelm foes and take down targets quickly. The Pounce ability allows it to knock down enemies and follow up with devastating bites. Coelurus avoids prolonged fights, preferring hit-and-run attacks and disengaging before counterattacks.
Coelurus
A lizards darts between your legs as it runs frantically away. You look back, then forward again and before you stands a creature only 3ft tall and about 5 ft long. It looks something like a small raptor, but does not have the prominent hindclaws.
Originally Posted by Darknecromancer of the Wizards Community forums.
Coelurus is a small, light and extremely swift dinosaur that eats small lizards. It weighs only 40 ibs and most of its bones are hollow. Being the small predator it is, it often runs when threatened for it knows that its mouth and claws inflist little real damage to larger creatures.
| Coelurus | |
| Medium-Sized animal | |
| HD | 2d8+4 ( 13 hp) |
| Initiative | +3 (+3 Dexterity) |
| Speed | 50 ft. (10 squares) |
| Armor Class | 15 (+3 Dexterity, +2 Natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12 |
| Base Attack | +1 |
| Attack | Bite +1 melee (1d4) |
| Full Attack | Bite +1 melee (1d4), 2 Claws -4 melee (1d2) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Improved Grab |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +2 |
| Abilities | Strength 11, Dexterity 17, Constitution 14, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 15, Charisma 11 |
| Skills | Spot: +7, Listen: +7 |
| Feats | lightning reflexes, Run, Combat Reflexes |
| Environment | Warm Forests |
| Organization | Solitary, Pair, or Hunting Pack (3-6) |
| Challenge Rating | 2 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 3-5 (Medium-Sized), 6-10 (Large) |
Combat
If forced to fight, a Coelurus will bite and claw ferociously until the end, or an escape is opened, whichever comes first.
Improved Grab (Ex): Its teeth grip tightly to its prey, and those that are bitten have trouble breaking free. If it hits an opponent with a bite attack, a Coelurus may initiate a grapple as a free action, dealing bite damage every round the grapple is continued.