Jhund

From The Musing of a Wanderer by Bevel Dart

Monster Summary

• Size: Rhino
• Motivation/Temperament: Aggressive; territorial of adopted herd
• Preferred Environment: Found most anywhere, with a slight preference to plains and fields
• Prevalence: Common
• Danger Level: Small Group; Village if a jhund mega-herd is excited
• Attack Description: Acidic Ranged Spit Attack; Incites Stampedes
• Monster Core Size and Appearance: Pearl-sized, brown with red veining. Their pulsing has an apparent light-absorbing effect.

Of all the confounded beasts that roam our continent, none gives the The Ion’cavar more grief than the jhund. They are common enough for a monster, and they are notoriously muddled in the head.

A Stocky Appearance

They grow quickly into their adult, hulking size. They stand on four hooved feet, with a body not unlike a massive cow, though they move and bounce about like a goat. They’re necks are a bit long, similar to a horse or llama. Red lined patterns of hair run across they’re otherwise dark-brown bodies. Their heavy hide protects them from any mundane blade.
Writers, the jhund has the body bulk of a bison, the neck of a llama, the ornery personality of a goat, and the temperament of a moose.

Obnoxious Protectors (tactics and combat)

At a distance they look friendly enough, grazing in a herd of some other animal, be it deer, bovine, goat, horse, or whatever. Indeed, they prefer grass and other vegetation. But they are EXTREMELY territorial of their adopted herd. And that’s exactly what they do: they adopt a herd of some other species, and they protect that herd.

If threatened, they tap into the sixth sense of herd animals and cause a riotous stampede. In the midst of this whirlwind of thundering hooks, rushing bodies, and billowing dust, the jhund hunts you down. Besides their massive size and sharp hooves, jhunds have spectacular aim with acidic spit.
Writers, this acidic spit is a medium-acid. It creates an intense burning sensation on bare skin. Blindness is likely if hit in the eye.

I was once on a Vellidan-sponsored expedition to explore a recently discovered complex of ruins. Well, persnickety Mrs jhund comes along and decides the pack animals are her herd. What a kerfluffle! I’m sure half of the mules are still roaming about the wilds with her, packs still on their backs.

The Ion’cavar regularly get calls to help with jhunds that have appeared overnight and adopted some villager’s flock of goats or usurped the community green and all its bovine inhabitants.

Jhund Herds

The worst is a herd of jhunds. Jhunds tend to be solitary, however they do shepherd their flocks together into mega-herds during mating season. A massive herd of goats, cows, horses, etc, accompanied by a dozen jhund can, if threatened, instantly turn into a village-leveling force of nature.

Jhund’s congruence cores tend to be brown pearls with red veining. Their pulsing has an apparent light-absorbing effect.

Friend, if you wake and find a jhund has commandeered your goat herd, back up very slowly and go visit your local Ion’cavar.