Cactus Cat

The cactus cat lives in dry deserts and mountain regions, and resembles a large lynx. It eats cactus, and has evolved a curious pair of claws to procure its food. Each foreleg has a foot-long bony protrusion that resembles a scythe blade. The blades are sharpened all along the edge, and the cactus cat uses them as a machete to cut barrel cacti open, allowing it to scoop out the interior.
While it does not eat people, it often gets a bit tipsy on some of the cacti it feeds on, and it may become belligerent. While inebriated it may attack anyone it out of sheer exuberance with no penalty to any of its attributes. Getting too inebriated wtill cause it to go to sleep.
The cactus cat attacks running pass the the victim hitting with its blade, doing cutting damage as it runs by. It will run around madly, slicing up as many foes as it can until it takes half its HP in damage — then it runs away. It does not attack to kill, but just for the sport of it. A cactus cat can leap up to slice at the body (-1 to DX except for Halflings, Dwarves or similar creatures) or go for the legs at no penalty. Fighters who choose the Wait maneuver may swing at the cat as it runs by, but otherwise it is smart enough to keep a healthy distance except on its own terms!
Cactus cats are not very common, and are usually found singly, active evenings, nights, and mornings. Sometimes they gather together, though — one prospector reported a "convention" of them, apparently sampling some potent cacti, as they chased him all night long.
Category:Myth