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Hyena, Dire

This large hyena has a thick head, rheumy red eyes, and a mouth filled with sharp, powerful teeth.
Dire Hyena
 CR 3
XP 800
N Large animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)
hp 26 (4d8+8)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +6 (2d6+6 plus trip)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +7 (+11 in tall grass or heavy undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in tall grass

ECOLOGY
Environment warm plains
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–8)
Treasure incidental

Dire hyenas (known to many as hyaenodons) are more fearsome than their smaller cousins. While hyaenodons won't turn down carrion as a handy meal, they much prefer to hunt for prey. A pack of dire hyenas rarely stops moving and hunting for anything other than sleep, mating, or food. Hyaenodons are 6 feet tall at the shoulder and often over 12 feet long. They weigh 900 pounds.

Gnolls have been known to train hyaenodons to serve in their lairs as guardians, or more commonly as fearsome mounts.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.