Numenera Discovery
Culovas are usually peaceful creatures that live in small groups deep within a forest, hunting for food and caring for their young. They lead simple lives.
Motive: Defense
Environment: Culovas live in bands in forests, particularly in the Westwood.
Health: 20
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points)
Armor: 2
Movement: Long
Modifications: Moves with stealth and climbs as level 6
Combat: Culovas can spray venom from their mouths. When they do, their heads turn almost 360 degrees, so all creatures within 10 feet (3 m) get the poison in their eyes, nose, and mouth. A victim must make a Might defense roll; those who fail suffer 4 points of Speed damage (ignoring Armor). Otherwise, culovas attack using weapons, usually javelins or spiked clubs.
Culovas enjoy laying ambushes for foes or sneaking around to flank or surprise from the rear. If things reach a point where a culova is engaged in combat, it fights to the death.
Interaction: Culovas avoid contact with other intelligent creatures unless they or their territories are threatened. They do not leave familiar ground except in extraordinary circumstances, so they are always on the defensive, even when they launch an attack. However, an attacking culova can be reasoned with. If you can convince the creature that you're not a threat or that you'll cease being a threat—which usually involves leaving the area—you might get through the encounter unscathed.
Use: Culovas live primarily in the Westwood and defend it against the encroachment of humans. The local nobles have put a bounty on their heads for disrupting the important logging trade in the forest. PCs who hunt the creatures will earn 10 shins per culova head they bring back.
Loot: Culovas usually have 1d6 javelins and a spiked club, and very rarely one might have a cypher. They never have shins or other things a human might find valuable.
GM Intrusion: The culova sprays venom without warning— even on the same turn in which it attacked with a weapon.