Blackstalker

*Homebrew Reference Book: The University of Sanbra's Guide to Xenobiology*

*Affiliations: Beasts*

Blackstalkers are a mutant offshoot of Garrals- genetically engineered guard animals created by the Empire to supplement human security troops. Like Garrals, Blackstalkers are quadrupedal predators with long claws, powerful fanged jaws, and a tail. But that's where the similarities end. The body of a Blackstalker is hairless and covered with an armored black hide. This hide is actually composed of thousands of tiny scales and is capable of deflecting light blaster fire. Worse, Blackstalkers have a primitive form of Force power, allowing them to sneak up on the most alert of targets and draw on remarkable combat skills. It's not known how or why the creatures developed these Force abilities, and no efforts to duplicate the effect in other species have succeeded.

Although excellent scouts and guard animals, Blackstalkers, unlike Garrals, are nearly impossible to train. All Imperial efforts to domesticate or control Blackstalkers failed, and eventually the Empire decided to destroy the breed. Unfortunately, many Blackstalkers managed to escape confinement and find their way onto outbound Starships. Hefty bounties were placed on Blackstalker heads, attracting many hunters, but few of the beasts were ever caught. It's believed that an unknown group arranged for the creatures to settle onto a new, largely uninhabited world. Blackstalkers are extremely rare, but they continue to make occasional appearances well into The New Jedi Order Era.

Occasionally, a Blackstalker will bond with a sentient creature, treating it as a friend and member of the family. This type of relationship generally develops only when a Blackstalker is young, although some reported cases indicate that a wounded Blackstalker may also bond to an individual that tends to its injuries. (Unfortunately, such efforts have also been known to result in the Blackstalker attacking its would-be savior.) It's interesting to note that Blackstalkers will sometimes accept friends and allies of the bonded sentient, too- but only grudgingly.

The only other beings that a Blackstalker will accept without reservation are its mate and its offspring. Blackstalkers mate for life and have litters of one or two cubs every few years. They're very protective of their young, attacking any nearby creature that seems even slightly threatening or dangerous. Only a bonded sentient can safely approach or handle a Blackstalker's young. The creatures grow to their full length of 2 meters in two years and have a lifespan of 50 years.

The limited Force abilities of a Blackstalker are normally used only to sneak up on prey (using Force Stealth). If pressed, however, a Blackstalker draws on The Force to enhance its combat prowess.

 Blackstalker Statistics (CL 5)

Medium Beast 6

**Initiative:** +5; **Senses:** Scent, Perception +10

### Defenses

Reflex Defense: 18 (Flat-Footed: 16), Fortitude Defense: 12, Will Defense: 12

Hit Points: 64, Damage Reduction: 5 (vs Energy), Damage Threshold: 12

### Offense

**Speed:** 6 Squares

**Melee:** Bite +6 (1d6+5)

**Melee:** Claws (2) +6 (1d4+5)

**Fighting Space:** 1 Square; **Reach:** 1 Square

**Base Attack Bonus:** +4, **Grapple:** +6; Pin

**Force Power Suite (Use the Force +8):** *Battle Strike* (3)

**Species Traits:** Bonus Feat (Force Sensitivity), Damage Reduction 5 (vs Energy), Force Stealth, Scent

### Base Stats

**Abilities:** Strength 14, Dexterity 14, Constitution 15, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 14, Charisma 10

**Feats:** Force Sensitivity, Force Training, Pin, Skill Training (Perception)

**Skills:** Perception +10, Use the Force +8 (may substitute for Stealth checks)

### Abilities

**Force Stealth:** A Blackstalker can use its Use the Force modifier instead of its Stealth modifier when making Stealth checks. Blackstalkers are considered Trained in the Stealth Skill.

**Scent:** Blackstalkers ignore Concealment and Cover when making Perception checks to Notice Targets within 10 squares, and they take no penalty from poor visibility when Tracking.