Tether

This creature has the appearance of an emaciated cat with wiry gray fur. Its eyes are bright emerald green and its tail is unusually long.

Tether (CR 3)

Small Magical Beast
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Initiative: +3
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +9
Speed: 30 feet, Climb 20 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 15, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
Hit Points: 26 (4d10+4)
Saving Throws: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +5

Offense

Melee: bite +8 (1d4-1), 2 claws +8 (1d3-1)
Reach: 5 feet
Special Attacks: Energy Drain (1 level, DC 14), fascination

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
8 (-1)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)

Base Attack Bonus: +4
CMB +2
CMD 15 (+19 vs. Trip)
Feats: Iron Will, Weapon Finesse
Skills: Acrobatics +7 (+15 when balancing), Climb +11, Escape Artist +5, Perception +9, Stealth +15

Racial Modifiers: +8 Acrobatics when balancing, +4 Stealth. The tether uses its Dexterity modifier for Climb checks.

Languages:

Special Abilities

Energy Drain (Su)

Each hour a tether remains within 20 feet of a creature it has fascinated, it deals one negative level to him or her.

Fascination (Su)

Will DC 14.

Ecology

Environment: Any Land
Organization: solitary
Treasure: none

Tethers are generally friendly (at least they act that way) to most creatures they encounter. When it selects an owner, it follows that creature around purring and meowing. If it manages to kill its owner with its energy drain ability, it selects a new owner from the remaining family members (if any).
A tether is more outgoing than its relative, the slinker, and enjoys crawling into its owner's lap, wrapping its tail around its owner's legs or arm and gently purring. Of course, the entire time this is going on, it is draining its owner's life force.
Copyright Notice Author Scott Greene.