Dire Coyote 4 (12)

High Noon at Midnight

Remnants of ancient populations reinvigorated by cursed magic, dire coyotes hunt lost and isolated creatures, regardless of whether the prey is alive or already dead. Dire coyotes are gaunt and sinewy, almost as large as a horse. Their hides are branded with arcane sigils that still glow and smoke with the sorcery that pulses through them.

Dire coyotes usually hunt in teams of two or three. However, their howls give the impression of a far larger number of individuals in the night.

Motive: Hungers for flesh, defense

Environment: Almost anywhere dark and isolated or near places ghosts haunt, individually and in teams of two or three

Health: 15

Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (4 points)

Armor: 1

Movement: Short

Modifications: Perception as level 6; attacks and defense against ghosts, wraiths, and other spirits as level 6

Combat: A dire coyote bites each round.

A dire coyote also has one or more of the following traits.

• Forlorn Howl. The dire coyote unleashes a forlorn howl that magically resonates within an adjacent short area (no more than once every few minutes). Creatures in the area take 4 points of Intellect damage (ignores Armor), causing them to run terrified in a random direction determined by the GM for several minutes, unless they succeed on an Intellect defense roll to end the effect early.
• Ghost eater. A dire coyote's attacks affect incorporeal ghosts, wraiths, and similar spirits. If a dire coyote destroys a ghost or wraith, that usually ends the haunting, even if the spirit normally returns. Destroying a ghost heals a dire coyote to full health, but afterward the dire coyote must sleep for a few hours to "digest" the essence.
• Ignite Gun. If a dire coyote is damaged by a gun attack (or bow, or similar mechanism), the gun wielder must immediately succeed on an Intellect defense roll or their gun ignites, burning anyone holding it for a moderate wound (4 points) each round for three rounds.

Interaction: Dire coyotes have a secret language and society, but usually present to outsiders as just particularly dangerous coyotes. However, if they wish, dire coyotes can speak with the voice and memories of any ghost they have personally destroyed.

Use: A sheriff who posted a bounty on dire coyotes has gone missing, and their spouse needs someone to go find them.

GM Intrusion: The dire coyote takes on the likeness of a ghost of someone the character knew—the ghost is someone the dire coyote has recently destroyed