Buy me a coffeeCynodont, Thrinaxodon
This burrow-loving, half-reptile creature bridges the gap between dinosaurs and mammals in stunning fashion!
Thrinaxodon is a sleek, compact predator roughly the size of a modern housecat. Its body is elongated and muscular, cloaked in a fine coat of proto-fur or whisker-like filaments—perfect insulation for the chilly nights of the post-extinction Earth. It boasts a narrow, tapered snout armed with differentiated teeth: piercing canines, sharp incisors, and grinding molars—a dental arsenal built for omnivorous efficiency. Its skull is punctuated by large eye sockets, hinting at keen vision, possibly nocturnal. The limbs are short but powerful, terminating in clawed paws ideal for digging and swift, skittering movement. It wears the expression of something always alert, always calculating.
Behaviour:
Thrinaxodon is a solitary, highly adaptive survivor, governed by instincts honed in the aftermath of the planet’s greatest extinction. It is primarily a burrow-dweller, emerging cautiously to scavenge, hunt small prey, or forage for plant matter. It exhibits a rare combination of wariness and opportunism, often scavenging kills from larger predators while avoiding direct conflict. It is known to be territorial, defending its burrow network with hissing growls and quick strikes. Despite its small size, it carries itself like a creature who remembers the fall of empires.
Habitat:
Favors semi-arid floodplains and scrublands peppered with volcanic ash and early conifer groves. Its burrows, carved into soft soil or hidden beneath exposed roots, serve as sanctuaries from both environmental extremes and predators. These dens are multi-chambered and cleverly reinforced—cold storage in a time of chaos.
Modus Operandi:
Stalks the undergrowth with surgical silence, relying on scent and sound to locate prey. It ambushes insects, amphibians, and juvenile reptiles with sudden pounces, subduing them with a snap of its jaws. When not hunting, it retreats into its burrow, entering torpor during especially harsh seasons—an evolutionary hedge against an unforgiving world.
Motivation:
Survival. In a landscape reshaped by extinction, Thrinaxodon is driven by a primal directive: adapt or die. Every burrow dug, every meal snatched, every breath drawn beneath a Triassic sun is an act of defiance—a small mammaliform clinging to life in the shadow of titans long gone.
Thrinaxodon 5e
Thrinaxodon 3.5 (Homebrew)
Thrinaxodon
Small beast, unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 18 (4d6 + 4)
Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (+0) | 15 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 2 (−4) | 14 (+2) | 6 (−2) |
Saving Throws Dex +4, Wis +4
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +4
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2
Burrow-Wise.
Thrinaxodon has advantage on Survival checks made to navigate natural underground environments and advantage on Stealth checks while underground or in rocky terrain.
Keen Senses.
Thrinaxodon has advantage on Perception checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics.
Thrinaxodon has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of Thrinaxodon’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Burrow Ambush. (Recharge 5–6)
If Thrinaxodon begins its turn hidden underground, it can erupt from the ground in a 5-foot space, making a bite attack. If it hits, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Burrow Down.
Thrinaxodon moves up to half its burrow speed and becomes heavily obscured until the start of its next turn if underground. While burrowed, it can attempt to Hide as a bonus action, even if lightly obscured.
Tactics
- Ambusher: Thrinaxodon prefers to lurk underground, striking from ambush with its Burrow Ambush ability.
- Pack Hunter: When with others, it will flank and harass prey, using Pack Tactics to bring down larger foes.
- Hit and Fade: If seriously threatened, it Burrow Downs and vanishes, relocating to strike again from a new angle.
- Survivor Instincts: If reduced below half HP, it attempts to flee or retreat into narrow tunnels inaccessible to larger pursuers.
Optional Familiar Variant
With DM permission, a Thrinaxodon can be summoned via Find Familiar. It grants advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to locate underground passages or small prey, and can be used by druids and rangers who revere prehistoric life.
A cynodont is a primitive mammal-like carnivore. They are low to the ground, with splayed legs lacking a fully erect posture. Their heads resemble those of dogs, but the body is vaguely lizardlike, covered in hair-like scales.
These statistics describe the smaller cynodonts such as Thrinaxodon, around the size of a housecat.
Originally Posted by Nilbog of the Wizards Community forums.
On this Thread
| Thrinaxodon Cynodont, Tiny | |
| Size/Type | Tiny animal |
| Hit Dice | 1d8 (4 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Armor Class | 14 (+2 size, +1 Dexterity, +1 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +0/-10 |
| Attack | Bite +3 melee (1d4-2) |
| Full Attack | Bite +3 melee (1d4-2) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | — |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1 |
| Abilities | Strength 7, Dexterity 13, Constitution 10, Intelligence 1, Wisdom 12, Charisma 4 |
| Skills | Listen +3, Spot +3 |
| Feats | Weapon Finesse |
| Environment | Any warm land |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating | 1/6 |
| Advancement | — |
| Level Adjustment | — |