Buy me a coffeeMegafauna, Baluchitherium (Paraceratherium), Colossus of the Canopy
“Towering above trees and trampling ancient trails, the Paraceratherium is a hornless giant whose silent footsteps shake the world.”
The Paraceratherium is a gargantuan, hornless titan that resembles a colossal blend of rhinoceros and giraffe. Its towering frame can reach over 16 feet at the shoulder and stretch nearly 30 feet in length. Long, muscular legs support its massive barrel-shaped body, while its extended neck and thick skull allow it to strip entire boughs of foliage with ease. Its upper lip is elongated and prehensile, acting much like an elephant’s trunk—ideal for plucking tender leaves from treetops. Its skin is thick, wrinkled, and grayish-brown, often bearing moss or dried mud from wallowing.
Behaviour
Gentle yet imposing, the Paraceratherium is a non-aggressive herbivore, exhibiting a placid temperament unless provoked or cornered. It travels slowly but purposefully, browsing as it goes and leaving clear trails of crushed vegetation and broken branches. It may rear up on its hind limbs to reach especially high foliage, a rare display of strength and balance for a creature of its size.
While normally solitary or found in loosely connected family bands, older males tend to be nomadic. In times of drought or scarcity, Paraceratheria may migrate across vast distances in search of ancient feeding grounds remembered in instinct.
Habitat
Paraceratherium prefers semi-arid woodlands, open forests, and river valleys where tall trees are abundant. These megafauna often follow ancient migration routes that trace the course of now-lost rivers or ley lines of primeval druidic power. Some sages believe their movements shape the ecosystems around them, with groves growing taller and lusher in their wake.
Modus Operandi
Though they avoid confrontation, Paraceratheria are capable of devastating force when threatened. A single sideways swing of their neck can pulverize a charging predator, and their trampling hooves can flatten undergrowth—or adventurers—without hesitation. Their true defense is their sheer size, which deters all but the most reckless or desperate of attackers.
They have no interest in treasure, territory, or conquest, but will defend their calves and feeding routes with surprising ferocity.
Motivation
The Paraceratherium is driven purely by survival and sustenance. It follows the cycles of ancient ecosystems, tied intrinsically to the land and the great forests. In druidic legend, it is said these beasts were once guardians of the World Tree’s roots, and their continued wandering ensures the stability of primal energies. Some scholars theorize that ancient druid circles still track these beasts for signs of ecological balance—or impending collapse.
Paraceratherium 5e
Baluchitherium, Pathfinder
Paraceratherium
Gargantuan Beast, Unaligned
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 195 (17d12 + 85)
Speed 40 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 (+7) | 9 (–1) | 21 (+5) | 2 (–4) | 14 (+2) | 6 (–2) |
Saving Throws Con +9, Wis +6
Skills Perception +6, Survival +6
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities Prone (due to size and mass)
Senses Passive Perception 16
Languages —
Proficiency Bonus +4
Traits
Titanic Frame.
The paraceratherium is too massive to be knocked prone or moved against its will by creatures Large or smaller. It automatically succeeds on saving throws to resist being grappled or shoved by creatures of those sizes.
Trample.
If the paraceratherium moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a Hoof Slam, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and take an extra 18 (4d8) bludgeoning damage.
Warden of the Ancient Wilds (Mythic Trait).
Once per long rest, when the paraceratherium is reduced to 0 hit points, it instead drops to 1 hit point, regains 50 hit points, and enters a mythic frenzy for 1 minute, gaining advantage on attack rolls and saving throws.
Actions
Multiattack.
The paraceratherium makes two attacks: one with its Hoof Slam and one with its Body Shove.
Hoof Slam.
Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target
Hit: 29 (4d10 + 7) bludgeoning damage
Body Shove.
Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target
Hit: 21 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage
The target must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet and knocked prone as the creature slams them with its massive shoulder or side.
Trumpeting Bellow (Recharge 5–6).
The paraceratherium emits a thunderous roar. Each creature of its choice within 60 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be deafened for 1 minute and frightened until the end of their next turn. A creature that succeeds on the save is immune to this effect for 24 hours.
Mythic Actions (Only usable during Mythic Frenzy)
At the end of another creature’s turn, the paraceratherium may use one of the following:
- Tremor Step. All creatures within 20 feet must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone as the ground quakes under its step.
- Ancient Surge. The paraceratherium moves up to its full speed without provoking opportunity attacks. It can move through spaces of Large or smaller creatures, who must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or take 27 (6d8) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.
Baluchitherium
This towering armored herbivore resembles a hornless rhinoceros, but with longer legs and a longer neck.
The immense baluchitherium stands nearly 18 feet high at the shoulder, measures 30 feet from end to end, and weighs 40,000 pounds. Despite its size, it lives a peaceful life pulling leaves from the tops of trees unless startled into action. When panicked, a baluchitherium tramples any obstacle in its path. If confronted, it smashes its tormentors with its elephantine feet.
A properly trained baluchitherium makes a capable mount for ettins, ogres, smaller giants, or other Large humanoids, and is one of the few mammals other than an elephant able to fill that role. Its relatively ponderous pace limits its usefulness to some extent, but its strength often more than makes up for this shortcoming.
Baluchitherium CR 8
XP 4,800
N Huge animal
Init +0; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +16
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 8, flat-footed 22 (+14 natural, -2 size)
hp 114 (12d8+60)
Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +7
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee 2 hooves +16 (2d8+9)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks trample (2d8+13, DC 25)
STATISTICS
Str 29, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +9; CMB +20 (+22 bull rush); CMD 30 (32 vs. bull rush, 34 vs. trip)
Feats Awesome Blow, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +16, Swim +15
ECOLOGY
Environment warm forests
Organization solitary, pair, or herd (3-8)
Treasure none
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.