------------------------ | Monstrous Compendium 4 | | Animals | ------------------------ *** Cattle (c) *** Mostly domesticated four-legged beasts of burden, these animals will not bother you unless you bother them first. In fact, [[[[[wSheep], [[[[[uCows], [[[[[sHorses], [[[[[WMearas], [[[[[yPonies], [[[[[DOxen], [[[[[rKine of Araw], and [[[[[UDeer] will tend to ignore adventurers completely. [[[[[oBoars], however, are a different matter. They have strong legs and fierce tusks, which they will use against anyone who stumbles into their territory. *** Canines (C) *** Four-legged animals with shaggy fur. Most of them are not very dangerous - in fact, the [[[[[sScruffy little dogs] will not do much except growl, and [[[[[yJackals] can be deadly against very weak adventurers, but will not hold their own against even moderately experienced ones. [[[[[oFoxes], [[[[[uWolves], [[[[[wWhite] [[[[[wwolves], and [[[[[BBlink dogs] can be a nuisance, but not overmuch. The evil [[[[[gWolf chieftains], [[[[[DWerewolves], [[[[[DWargs], [[[[[RHellhounds], and [[[[[rGreater Hellhounds], however, are very dangerous. *** Felines (f) *** Lithe, four-legged animals with sleek fur and sharp claws. The [[[[[WScrawny cat] lives in the town and tends to walk by itself. The [[[[[UWild cats], [[[[[gTree cats], and [[[[[bNight cats] are all quite menacing, but only dangerous in packs. The powerful [[[[[DPanthers], [[[[[oTigers], [[[[[wSnow tigers], and [[[[[ySabre-tooth tigers] are not to be toyed with. The [[[[[uLeopards] and [[[[[RLions] are the strongest of all the feline monsters. *** Quadrupeds (q) *** Four-legged creatures of varying breeds, these monsters are all quite large and fierce - their bulk alone is enough to intimidate you. The weakest are the [[[[[yApes], who make a lot of noise but aren't very dangerous. The [[[[[WOld] [[[[[Wbears] just want everyone to leave them alone. There are many other different kinds of bears, among them the [[[[[uCave bears], [[[[[rWar bears], [[[[[UGrizzly bears], [[[[[wPolar bears], [[[[[bBlue bears], [[[[[RFire bears], [[[[[BAquatic bears], and [[[[[DWerebears]. The [[[[[sMumakil] are gigantic elephantine forms, stomping all over the dungeon and waving their tusks threateningly. The [[[[[GNight mares] are fearsome skeletal horses with glowing eyes. The [[[[[gCatoblepas] are strange ox-like forms with huge heads but thin, weak necks. The [[[[[oRust monsters] are weird, small animals that look perpetually hungry. *** Birds (B) *** There are many different types of birds on Middle-earth, and the [[[[[RChaffinches], [[[[[WSparrows], [[[[[BNightingales], [[[[[UThrushes], [[[[[WRavens], [[[[[oGulls], [[[[[rEagles], and [[[[[rGreat eagles] will not harm anyone who does not harm them first. The [[[[[wSwans] hold a very special place with the Valar, and woe be to anyone who knowingly harms a Swan. However, not all birds are harmless. The [[[[[RKirinki] can wake up entire towns with their shrill cry, The [[[[[sCrows] and [[[[[DCrebain] are ever hungry for carrion, as are [[[[[GGorcrows]. The [[[[[uHunting hawks] seek prey without regard for friend or foe. The [[[[[DWinged Horrors] are not quite birds, they are Great Eagles corrupted by Morgoth to serve his ends.