The Strange Bestiary
Once simple domesticated cattle, the creatures now known as iron bulls were created when a noble of Mandariel was cursed by a powerful sorcerer she wronged. Upon the sorcerer's death, the noblewoman's crops dried and withered, and her livestock became monstrous creatures: iron bulls.
Skinned in iron with hearts of burning brimstone, these beasts have since scattered across Ardeyn, killing whatever they find and spitefully destroying entire farms and small villages.
Iron bulls do not procreate, age, or fall victim to illness. Their numbers dwindle over time very slowly, for they die only if killed by violence, and that is no mean trick.
Motive: Hungers for flesh
Environment (Ardeyn | Magic): Usually solitary in the wilderness, but also underground
Health: 22
Damage Inflicted: Major wound (8 points)
Armor: 4
Movement: Short
Modifications: Strength- and stability-related tasks as level 8.
Combat: Iron bulls are mean-spirited, malicious carnivores that attack most living creatures on sight with their iron hooves and horns. If a bull charges forward, it can make an attack as part of the same action as the movement. Further, this charging gore attack inflicts 2 additional points of damage, for a total of 10 points.
In any case, the heat generated by the bull contributes 2 points of the damage dealt, so a creature that is immune or resistant to heat might take only 6 points of damage from a typical attack or 8 points from a charging attack. Touching an iron bull with bare flesh automatically inflicts 1 point of ambient damage from its fiery heart.
As a desperate (or rage-induced) measure, an iron bull can spew some of its internal fire. This deals 6 points of ambient damage to all creatures within immediate range, but it costs the bull 3 points of health.
Iron bulls are renowned for their great strength. With a powerful charge, they can smash through stone walls or knock down an entire house. An angry bull can smite a rocky cliff and cause a rockslide or an avalanche.
Interaction: Iron bulls are no more intelligent than normal animals, although the curse has made them belligerent and nasty tempered, almost impossible to tame or train.
Use: Iron bulls are dangerous wilderness encounters in their own right. However, a crafty villain might spur a bull to anger so the creature attacks his enemies or causes a major distraction in an inhabited area. An even craftier miscreant might use sorcery to control an iron bull and put it to work as a beast of burden, a guardian, or an attack beast.
GM Intrusion: The character is knocked prone beneath the great iron beast, its furnacelike heart just above him.
Escaping is a level 6 task, but remaining under the bull risks damage not only from the heat but also from being trampled.
GM Intrusion: The iron bull smashes into the wall, causing the surrounding structure to collapse.