Planar Bestiary
Ever seen a cloud that looks like a face or a castle…or a wolf? Hopefully, it's just a chance resemblance to something familiar, not actually a native of the Plane of Air hunting in cloud shape, stalking prey moving across the landscape below.
Natives of the Elemental Plane of Air, cumulolupines (also commonly called "cloud wolves") are lone stalkers, given to migrating to other dimensions with clouds and sources of food, and occasionally, taking part in djinn-organized hunts. In appearance and in manner, cloud wolves resemble mundane wolves, though ones much larger than the regular kind, and only when they're not in cloud form.
Cloud wolves are hungry but playful. A cumulolupine hunts nearly anything if they're hungry enough, including humanoids. If not desperate for food, a cloud wolf may spend their time in cloud form, taking on all manner of different shapes to delight (or frighten) viewers on the ground below.
While in cloud form, the cumulolupine is indistinguishable from a regular cloud (unless they choose to sculpt their shape).
Motive: Thrill of the hunt, play
Environment: The Plane of Air, other worlds of the Material Plane with wide open skies, alone or part of a small cluster of two or three
Health: 21
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Movement: Short; short when flying
Modifications: Speed defense as level 4 due to large size; disguise and perception as level 7
Combat: A cloud wolf attacks twice each round with their bite.
Every few rounds, a cumulolupine can release a thundering growl. This shocking thunderclap inflicts damage on targets within short range that fail a Might defense task. Damaged targets are also deafened for a few rounds afterward.
Once each minute, a cloud wolf can breathe out a miniature thunderstorm of flashing lightning and booming thunder, inflicting 7 points of damage on up to three targets within short range that fail a Speed defense task, or 3 points even if a target succeeds on the defense task.
When they wish, a cumulolupine can magically change shape as their action, becoming a colossal grey-white cloud, or reverting back into their true form. Any equipment they are wearing or carrying is absorbed into the cloud. They revert to a cloud shape if they die, and slowly disperse like a regular cloud over time.
In cloud shape, the wolf retains their stats, but as an immaterial being can't make attacks, and only magical attacks affect them. While in cloud form, a cumulolupine can use their action to transport themself, and up to three other cloud wolves, to a different plane of existence known to the wolf where clouds are present.
Interaction: Cumulolupines are like normal wolves in that they are clever predators, if a bit smarter and sometimes willing to engage in play rather than hunting behavior if not too hungry.
Use: A strange cloud formation has lingered around the nearby mountain for weeks. In it, travelers swear they can see all sorts of shapes coming and going, and not just in their imagination.
GM Intrusion (Group): Weather in a 5-mile radius changes as the cloud wolf desires over the course of a few rounds, including increasing or decreasing cloud cover; changing wind direction; turning clear conditions to rain, hail, or snow; turning inclement weather clear; or anything in between. The conditions persist for up to 8 hours, but only while the cloud wolf is in the area. If the cloud wolf creates extreme weather in the area, physical tasks for characters in the affected area are hindered.