_____WARBEAST_ The warbeast is a creature born and raised to serve as a rider's mount. Bred for exceptional strength, aggression, and surefootedness, these creatures are powerfully built, strong-willed, and openly belligerent. CREATING A WARBEAST "Warbeast" is a template that can be added to any Medium-size or larger animal or vermin (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A warbeast uses all the base creature's attributes and special abilities except as noted here. The Monster Manual describes a few "war creatures" that have qualities similar to those of a warbeast but differ from standard creatures of a given kind. These creatures are considered to already have a separate "war template" and cannot have the warbeast template applied. For example, one cannot apply the warbeast template to a heavy warhorse. Hit Dice: Same as base creature +1. Speed: Same as base creature +10 feet. AC: Same as base creature. Attacks: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for added Hit Die and Strength increase). Damage: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for Strength increase). Special Qualities: A warbeast retains the special qualities of the base creature and gains the following special quality. Combative Mount (Ex): A rider on a trained warbeast mount gets a +2 circumstance bonus on all Ride checks. A trained warbeast is proficient with light, medium, and heavy armor. A vermin warbeast, being mindless and therefore untrainable, cannot have this ability. Saves: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for the added Hit Die and ability score increases). Abilities: Increase from base creature as follows: Str +3, Dex +0, Con +3, Int +0, Wis +2, Cha +0. Skills: A warbeast gains skills according to its new Hit Dice. It receives a +1 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. Feats: A warbeast gains a feat if its additional Hit Die qualifies it for one. Climate/Terrain: Same as base creature. Organization: Solitary. Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +1. Treasure: None. Alignment: Same as base creature. Advancement: Same as base creature. TRAINING A WARBEAST A warbeast can be reared and trained just as the base creature can. If the base creature is a domestic animal, the creature need not be specifically reared, but it must be trained for two months (Handle Animal DC 20) to develop its abilities. A warbeast based on a wild animal must be reared for one year (Handle Animal DC 15 + HD of the warbeast), then trained for 2 months (Handle Animal DC 20 + HD of the warbeast). A warbeast based on a vermin, being mindless, is untrainable. A trained warbeast is capable of carrying a rider into battle, and it gains the combative mount special quality (see above). Market Price: The market price of a warbeast is a function of its Hit Dice: 50 gp/HD for a warbeast of 3 HD or less, or 100 gp + 75 gp/HD for one of 4 HD or more.