Yowie — Hairy Wanderer of Australia’s Ranges
| Creature | Yowie, an elusive, immensely strong hairy wanderer |
|---|---|
| Home | Eastern Australian ranges, fern gullies and wooded creek country |
| Temperament | Wary of travellers; dangerous when threatened or protecting young |
| Signs | Heavy tracks, broken branches, barking calls and sudden movement in cover |
The creek track ends at a wall of fallen timber. Beneath the gums stands a huge, hair-covered figure, one broad hand resting against a trunk. Its face turns towards the travellers. A coughing bark rings across the gully; then the creature steps back into the bracken and waits.
Yowies move through dense bush with surprising silence. Their strong arms can shift a fallen tree, but most will avoid an armed party if given an escape route. They watch rather than attack, approaching unfamiliar sounds and fires only when curiosity overcomes caution. Corner one, threaten its family or pursue it into its shelter, and that restraint vanishes.
Life in the Bush
These wanderers follow creek lines, rocky saddles and wooded ranges, eating roots, fruit, grubs and small animals. They shelter beneath overhangs and tangled thickets. A family may occupy one gully for weeks before moving on. A track through their home is no more a road to them than a deer path is to a farmer.
A Yowie gives warning before fighting: stamping, breaking a dead limb or making a sharp barking cry. It is powerful enough to strike a person down and agile enough to scale a ledge in the middle of a chase. Its familiarity with the land matters more than its strength. Follow its tracks carelessly and the pursuer soon becomes the one lost in the forest.
What Is Happening Right Now?
The blocked saddle near Mount Lindesay. Above a Border Ranges creek, the only dry crossing is blocked by a fresh fall of timber. A family carrying provisions tried to climb over it, only to be driven back by a shaggy giant. Since then someone—or something—has dragged extra branches across the path.
A young Yowie lies trapped beneath the first trunk. Its parent has blocked the route to keep strangers away, but cannot lift the timber at the right angle alone. Heavy rain is coming. The family needs the crossing before the creek rises, while the Yowie needs the intruders to stop rushing towards its youngster.
Quiet observation reveals the adult returning repeatedly to one spot. A lever, ropes and patience can free the young creature. Scouting the slope finds a longer but safer passage. An axe-wielding assault starts a desperate fight and leaves the infant worse off. The travellers’ decision determines whether the next passage through the gully is safe.
Signs, Behaviour and Tactics
- On the trail: crushed leaf litter, broad footprints in soft mud and branches snapped high above head height. One sign alone proves little.
- At first sight: the Yowie watches from cover, then backs away if the party does not advance.
- When alarmed: it gives a warning bark, stamps and pulls down branches to block pursuit.
- In battle: it strikes with both arms, withdraws into vegetation and tries to protect an escape route rather than die in place.
For other creatures and terrain of the region, see The Bush and the Oceania Bestiary.
Game Statistics
These original creature statistics are presented separately for each ruleset.
Yowie
Large Monstrosity, Neutral
AC 15 (natural armour); HP 110 (13d10 + 39); Initiative +2 (12); Speed 40 ft., Climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 9 (−1) | 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +4; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14; Languages —; CR 4 (1,100 XP; PB +2).
Traits
Bush Walker. Natural undergrowth and nonmagical plant growth do not cost the Yowie extra movement.
Actions
Multiattack. The Yowie makes two Slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 10 ft. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) Bludgeoning damage.
Warning Bellow (Recharge 5–6). Each creature of the Yowie’s choice within 30 feet that can hear it makes a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or has the Frightened condition until the end of its next turn.
Reaction
Fade into the Bush. When a melee attack misses the Yowie among vegetation, it moves 10 feet without provoking an Opportunity Attack from the attacker.
Yowie
Large monstrosity, neutral
Armor Class 15 (natural armor); Hit Points 110 (13d10 + 39); Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 9 (−1) | 15 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14; Languages —; Challenge 4 (1,100 XP).
Bush Walker. Nonmagical difficult terrain consisting of plants costs the Yowie no extra movement.
Actions
Multiattack. Two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. A Medium or smaller target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength save or be knocked prone.
Warning Bellow (Recharge 5–6). Each creature of the Yowie’s choice within 30 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom save or be frightened of it until the end of its next turn.
Reaction
Fade into the Bush. After a melee attack misses while the Yowie is in vegetation, it moves 10 feet without provoking an opportunity attack from that attacker.
Yowie
CR 6; XP 2,400; N Large monstrous humanoid
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +15.
Defense
AC 19, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, −1 size, +8 natural); hp 85 (10d10+30); Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +9.
Offense
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft.; Melee 2 slams +14 (2d6+5); Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.; Special Attacks warning bellow.
Statistics
Str 21, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 15, Cha 10; Base Atk +10; CMB +16; CMD 28; Feats Alertness, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Stealth); Skills Climb +22, Perception +15, Stealth +12, Survival +13; Languages none.
Special Abilities
Woodland Stride (Ex). The Yowie moves through natural undergrowth at normal speed without damage or impediment; magically manipulated growth still affects it.
Warning Bellow (Su), 1/day. Creatures of its choice within 30 feet that hear the bellow must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or be shaken for 1d4 rounds. Those who save are immune to that Yowie’s bellow for 24 hours. The DC is Wisdom-based.
Yowie
Large Monstrous Humanoid; usually neutral; CR 6
Hit Dice 10d8+30 (75 hp); Initiative +6; Speed 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 20 ft.; Armor Class 19 (−1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17; Base Attack/Grapple +10/+19; Attack slam +14 melee (2d6+5); Full Attack 2 slams +14 melee (2d6+5); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks warning bellow; Special Qualities darkvision 60 ft., woodland stride; Saves Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +9; Abilities Str 21, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 15, Cha 10; Skills Climb +16, Hide +5, Listen +7, Spot +7; Feats Alertness, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Hide); Environment warm forests and hills; Organization solitary or family (2–3).
Special Abilities
Woodland Stride (Ex). Natural thorns, briars and overgrown ground do not impede the Yowie. Magically manipulated vegetation still affects it.
Warning Bellow (Su), 1/day. Those of its choice within 30 feet who hear the bellow must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or be shaken for 1d4 rounds. A success gives immunity to that Yowie’s bellow for 24 hours. The DC is Wisdom-based.
In the Field
Folklore and Sources
Stories of large hairy beings in Australia differ by place and community. Later settler reports and modern cryptid accounts form another history, not one unified Indigenous tradition. The Yowie in these statistics is a fictional creature for play. The Mount Lindesay encounter above is invented, not a claim about a traditional story.
ABC North Coast: Yowie Country and Woodenbong; ABC: early hairy-man accounts; University of New England: The Return of the Australian Yowie. Rules: Pathfinder creature types; 3.5e creature types.
Watch and Listen
Yowie — The Australian Bigfoot
The Whowie — Monster of the Riverina
The Whowie is a distinct being in Yorta Yorta accounts, not another name for this hairy Yowie.
The Yowie — An Australian Bigfoot Story
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