FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 13"
HIT DICE: 2-4
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE: C, Q
NO. OF ATTACKS: 6 claws, 1 bite, and 1 tail slap
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 (x6)/2-8/1-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Spell use; multiple attacks
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to cold
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Average to high
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: L (7' - 9' long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
    Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: 2 HD, III/89 + 2/hp
    3 HD, III/135 + 3/hp
    4 HD, IV/200 + 4/hp

    Cantobeles are weird creatures encountered
in wilderness areas, particularly in
swamps and forested ravines. A cantobele
has a high-pitched, soft, feminine voice,
and it uses it effectively to lure prey and deceive
hostile creatures by remaining hidden
in underbrush and employing its voice in
combination with its innate abilities of ESP
(9" range) and tongues. Cantobeles hide
from view until they are close enough to
spring onto prey. The name of the creature
is derived from the strange, beautiful ringing
sound, like a chorus of chiming bells,
which the cantobele emits after making a
kill.

    Cantobeles fight with all three of their
pairs of legs and with their powerful fangs.
A cantobele's tail can also strike (1-6 damage),
but it is usually used for balance when
the creature uses all its claws. Cantobeles
prefer to spring upon opponents, knocking
them flat and raking and biting before the
victim can rise to defend itself.

    A cantobele can cast one misdirection
and two ice storm spells every day, but can
take no other action in the round in which
the spell is cast. Cantobeles suffer no damage
from cold. They have 11" infravision
and eyes which filter out glare, and are
never blinded or dazzled by snow or bright
lights. Their claws and six-legged gait make
them sure-footed on the slickest ice, in deep
snow, or on tree boughs. Cantobeles hoard
victims' treasure for use in bargaining.

    Cantobeles are large and heavily muscled,
but sleek in the manner of great
cats. A cantobele has a broad tail with very
short fur, ending in a tuft of long black
hairs. The rest of the creature's body is
covered with thick fur, ranging in color
from grey-white to tawny depending on
habitat and season (colored for camouflage),
and maturity (darker, more intense coloration
denotes youth). The long mane of the
cantobele matches its body and tail fur. A
cantobele's eyes are startlingly human in
appearance, the pupils brown or mauve.
 

    by Ed Greenwood