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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Echohawk" data-source="post: 5178267" data-attributes="member: 9849">As one might guess by their name, shadow panthers are the deepest black. Also known as "mountain ghosts," these predators are greatly feared by those who dwell near them. A shadow panther looks very much like a displacer beast, with several distinctions: the creature's six legs are evenly-spaced along its torso (whereas displacer beasts have two front legs and four hind lefs); the two tentacles growing from its forward shoulder blades lack the displacer beast's horny ridges, instead tapering to a single bony hook; and the male possesses an almost leonine black mane of shaggy hair around its head and neck. Many sages believe the shadow panther to be an evolutionary link between the displacer beast and the wemic, a view supported by the fact that the creature has a second hip joint at its middle set of legs, allowing it to raise its upper torso and travel on its rear two sets of legs in a wemic-like fashion.Combat: A shadow panther attack primarily with its teeth and foreclaws; if backed into a corner, it can rear up on its hind legs and attack with its middle claws also. Each claw attack causes 1-3 hp damage, and the creature bites for 1-8 hp damage. In addition, it can use its tentacles to restrain particularly difficult prey. A tentacle attack strikes at -2 to hit; if successful, all further attacks that round are made at +2 to hit. The victim must make a successful Strength check in order to break free of the shadow panther's tentacle the following round. The tentacles are sensitive, so shadow panthers do not use them in combat unless absolutely necessary. They are, however, often used to carry cubs on their backs when fleeing, or to drag away slain prey to devour it in the safety of their lairs.Because of their dark color, shadow panthers have an innate ability to hide in shadows. They use this ability to sneak up on prey, and also to escape if they find themselves overpowered by a stronger foe. While their ability to hide in shadows necessarily depends upon the terrain and lighting, shadow panthers have an overall success rate of about 75%.Habitat/Society: Shadow panthers live in small packs, with a dominant male, his mate, their children, and his siblings. They are savage yet show an intelligence beyond that of their animal nature. In any case, the pack works remarkable well together using teamwork to corner and trap prey with deadly effectiveness.Ecology: Most of the shadow panthers' time is spet in their mountain habitat, where they lair in hidden caves. They are exceptional climbers, using their hooked tentacles to find the narrowest of purchases. Their agility allows them to prey upon mountain goats and sheep, which make up their primary food source. They do not seem to fear humans or demihumans and have been known to attack not only livestock but also farmers.The pelts of shadow panthers are prized because of their rich, sleek fur and ink-black coloration. A shadow panther skin in good condition can sell for as much as 3,000 gold pieces . A cloak made of shadow panther fur can add 5% to a rogue's hide in shadows ability but does not allow someone without the ability to hide in shadows.So far, all attempts as domesticating shadow panther young have failed. The cubs seem to savage to train, and -- worse yet -- shadow panthers have an uncanny ability to track others of their kind. Even if the rest of a newborn cub's pack is slain and the cub is taken to be raised as a guard beast, before too long, a shadow panther "strike team" hunts the creature down to rescue it, slaying its captors if possible. Such cubs are then adopted into the new pack and raised as one of their own.</blockquote>

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