Greetings, loyal subjects!
I hope you have been well since I addressed you last. I come to you bearing good news—my influence has spread through the hallowed halls of Paizo. Using my mother (Editorial Intern Cassidy) as a puppet for my machinations, I have guaranteed that my legacy will prevail through the ages by immortalizing myself in the upcoming tome Bestiary 4. Feast your eyes upon my likeness:
Illustration by Mattias Fahlberg
Almiraj
This oversized rabbit has a single long, pearlescent horn protruding from its crown.
Almiraj CR 1
XP 400
N Small magical beast
Init +2 Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +4DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +0; –2 vs. witch hexesOFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., burrow 10 ft.
Melee +1 gore +6 (2d4–1)
Special Attacks magic hornSTATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB –1; CMD 11 (15 vs. trip)
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +6 (+14 when jumping), Perception +4, Stealth +14; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics when jumping, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth
Languages Sylvan (can't speak)
SQ hex-proneECOLOGY
Environment temperate hills, plains, or forests
Organization solitary
Treasure incidental (magic horn)SPECIAL ABILITIES
Hex-Prone (Su) An almiraj takes a –2 penalty on all saving throws against harmful witch hexes. The duration of any beneficial hexes longer than 1 round that affect an almiraj is increased by 50%.
Magic Horn (Su) While on the creature's head, an almiraj's horn is treated as a +1 weapon. Any living creature slain by an almiraj's gore attack immediately turns to stone (as if by the flesh to stone spell, with no saving throw, and the creature is still dead). A severed almiraj horn retains a wisp of its former magic, and counts as a masterwork weapon if used to create a magical dagger or similar small piercing weapon.
The almiraj is a surprisingly dangerous predator. Almirajes' strong affinity with witches, magical gore attacks, and susceptibility to hexes suggest they have arcane origins, perhaps the result of experiments by witches seeking to deliberately create a new kind of familiar.
Reminiscent of a unicorn horn, an almiraj's most prominent feature serves as both a deterrent and deadly weapon. The almiraj uses its horn to hunt, stalking and spearing prey on the brutal appendage. The horn's unique magical properties have the gruesome side effect of forcing the almiraj to consume its prey while it still lives, before it turns to stone—when hunting smaller creatures, the almiraj strikes to slow its prey through blood loss and to disable it by maiming its limbs. Occasionally, an enterprising individual will hunt an almiraj for its horn, but success is limited since almirajes are exceptionally vicious, stealthy, and athletic targets—their acrobatic leaps bring their horns within reach of the vital organs of much larger creatures.
Almirajes are fiercely territorial, although they flee if unable to fight on their terms, only to return later to defend their territory. They demonstrate their territorial claims to others of their kind with acrobatic displays and mock horn battles rather than fighting in earnest. Other intruders are met with aggressive posturing and warning calls, though almirajes prefer not to fight. If an interloper refuses to withdraw, however, the almiraj will fight to the death to defend its claim.
It's unclear how almirajes reproduce, since females are rare and the creatures are always encountered alone. Records indicate that they live for 40 to 60 years and some communities are able to build respectful, if wary, relationships with them.
Almirajes are particularly popular with witches as familiars. Spellcasters of any alignment with the Improved Familiar feat can gain an almiraj as a familiar at 5th level.
"But, Emperor Aslan," some might say, "I don't remember you having a horn... or bloodstained fur." To these people, I say: just wait to see what happens if my carrot supply ever dries up. In the meantime, I encourage you all to take an almiraj as your familiar and see what bunnies can really do.
Until next time, my minions.
Aslan
Emperor of Livingroom
Nibbler of Dragons
Lord and Master of all He Surveys
