FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 5-16
(d12+4) + 1-4 infants
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 15”
HIT DICE 6
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 (2)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: (see
below)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Hurling
stones for 2-24 points
damage
SPECIAL DEFENSES: See
below. Also, superior
bearing, surprise only on
a 1.
MAGIC RESISTANCE:
Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
SIZE: L (6’ high at shoulder)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Tolwars are herd
animals, preferring open grasslands, near water, to other terrain.
At first glance, they appear to be little more than
undersized, trunkless elephants.
The error of this assumption will
soon become obvious to anyone
who should attack them, however.
Tolwars are able to employ
at will a limited form of telekinesis,
which they use to uproot
grass or playfully throw waterballs at each
other. In addition, it can
be used twice per round to various advantages. By telekinesis, Tolwars
are able to lift up to 1000 gp weight,
such as a large boulder,
and hurl it at an opponent, doing 2-24 points
of damage. Similarly, such
missiles can be caught by Tolwars’ telekinesis 50% of the time. Up to 2
normal missiles, such as arrows,
bolts, or spears, can also
be caught in a round (75% chance for each
catch), or the above functions
(hurling and catching) can be mixed
as needed, up to two actions
per round. The telekinetic ability has a
functioning range of 2”,
though boulders may be hurled as far as
10”, with a -2 to hit at
long range (5” or more) and a -1 to hit at
medium range (3”).
A Tolwar raised from infancy
by a single person becomes a loyal,
loving mount. They are the
equal of horses in intelligence, and,
though slower, are much hardier. At 7500 gp weight carried they are
slowed to half speed, up to their maximum load of 10,000 gp weight.
They will defend their masters dutifully to the death, assaulting their
enemies with boulders or other handy objects, or catching missiles
hurled at their riders. They may also trample opponents for 2-8
points damage with each forefoot which hits, striking once per round
(double damage if charging). A trained Tolwar will defend his master
from the second round of battle onward. It should be noted that if a
Tolwar successfully tramples an opponent, the victim will be prone
on the next round unless initiative is gained. Lance thrusts made
from a Tolwar's back do damage as from the back of a heavy
warhorse, with +4 to damage.
Tolwars are not easy to raise or train. First of all, before they are
bought or captured, a pen strong enough to contain them must be
built. For obvious reasons, the pen and all ground within 2" of it
should be cleared of any movable object. Gates or doors must be
designed with padlocks, for a Tolwar will easily lift bars. The pen walls
will always need to be made of stone. The pen must be at least 100 feet
square, to allow the growing Tolwar to exercise. A three-foot
thickness of stone, six feet high, of the dimension of 100 feet to a
side, will probably cost around 1200 gp. A shelter of stone will also
have to be built, at about the same cost. And of course, all stones
used in construction had better weigh more than 1000 gp.
In addition, if an infant Tolwar's initial reaction is not 60% or
greater, it will not respond to its new owner, eventually becoming
unmanageable.
Infant Tolwar have 2 hit dice. Newborns can already telekinese
250 gp weight, and hurl small stones as far as 4", doing 1-8 points of
damage. They may also butt with their heads for 1-3 points of
damage. An adult Tolwar consumes roughly five times as much grain
as a heavy warhorse each day, at 5 sp a meal. Once imprinted, a
Tolwar will never favor anyone but the man who raised it.
Saddles, barding, and other accoutrements generally cost triple
the price of the same gear for a horse .Bridle and bit are unnecessary,
as a Tolwar is guided by nudging it with the fot behind one ear or
the other.
Tolwars give birth to only one infant at a time (after 1.5 years
pregnancy). Infants take 4 years to reach maturity, although they can
be ridden into battle after only 2 years. They live to around 20 years
of age.
Created by Todd Lockwood
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