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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Taldan Cave Squirrel

Taldan cave squirrels, also known as tauhotis, are a curious cousin of the much smaller common ground squirrel, found anywhere with large, grassy flatlands. The creatures burrow underground, forming cave systems tall enough for giants in astonishingly little time. Once the caves are excavated, the squirrels turn their attention toward the largest quantities of gems or metals they can find—including those in the ground floors and vaults of nearby buildings. Nothing is off-limits, and no effort is too large when these squirrels go gem hunting.

Cave squirrels' desire for these precious stones and ores arises not from greed, but rather productivity. After returning to the cave system, cheek pouches full of treasure, the males deposit the stolen goods before the females, who lick and spit on the piles of gems and metals to form them into structural pillars. Given the cave squirrels' tireless work habits, these pillars can solidify in a matter of hours, easily displacing existing stone and soil. Many an Opparan groundskeeper has stepped outside after a lovely teatime to find months of work undone in a scene of utter, glittering chaos. Architects throughout history have attempted to recreate or imitate these gleaming pillars; however, they rarely succeeded, for they often lacked a certain unpredictable pragmatism the cave squirrels seem to effortlessly achieve.

When threatened, cave squirrels will let out a high-pitched scream to warn their colony. They can spit out any food or building materials in their cheek pouches with deadly speeds at attackers.

Recall Knowledge - Animal (Nature): DC 20
Unspecific Lore: DC 18
Specific Lore: DC 15

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Taldan Cave SquirrelCreature 5

Medium Animal 
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 186 2.0
Perception +15; low-light vision, scent (imprecise) 60 feet, tremorsense (imprecise)
Skills Acrobatics +11, Athletics +12, Survival +13
Str +4, Dex +4, Con +5, Int -4, Wis +1, Cha +2
Studded Cheeks The cave squirrel can store up to six gems in its cheeks. It typically begins combat with all six, and it loses a gem each time it uses gem spit.
AC 21; Fort +13, Ref +15, Will +9
HP 95
Defensive Scream [reaction] (auditory) Trigger The cave squirrel rolls initiative or has taken damage before initiative; Effect The cave squirrel lets out an earpiercing shriek, alerting any other cave squirrels in the area to its plight. It uses Screaming Force.
Speed 30 feet, burrow 40 feet
Melee [one-action] jaws +15 [+11/+7] (agile), Damage 2d6+4 piercing plus GrabMelee [one-action] claw +13 [+9/+5] (agile), Damage 2d8+4 slashingRanged [one-action] gem spit +15 [+10/+5] (range 20 feet), Damage 2d8+6 bludgeoning plus concussive gemConcussive Gem On a critical hit on a gem spit Strike, the target must succeed at a DC 22 Fortitude save or become stunned 1.Forage for Gems [two-actions] The cave squirrel dives underground in search of gems. The cave squirrel Burrows up to its Speed. It must end its movement back on the surface. During its burrow, it happens upon 1d4 cheap gems (such as salt or quartz), which it stuffs in its cheeks, up to its maximum of 6.Natural Speed A cave squirrel isn't affected by difficult terrain from earth or stone.Screaming Force [one-action] (auditory, sonic) The cave squirrel lets out a terrible scream. Non–cave squirrel creatures within 30 feet must succeed at a DC 22 Fortitude save or take 2d10 sonic damage. On a critical failure, a creature is deafened for 1 minute. The cave squirrel can't use Screaming Force again for 1d4 rounds.