THE APE CAT - A NEW MOSNTER IDEA FROM A LOCAL LEGEND

 

The Pacific Northwest is known for some pretty famous cryptis, most notably the Sasquatch or Bigfoot. There are others such as the giant octopi of the Tacoma Narrows, Tree Octopi, even several lake monsters but there is one that I only recently learned about that seems like the right sort of critter to include as one of D&D's weirdo monsters - The Ape Cat

Known as the Klickitat Ape Cat, the creatures is said to be a large, panther-like cat with a six-foot long tail and the face of an ape, with hair that sticks out. It's said to haunt the area around The Columbia River Gorge where it stalks the waters and bluffs. It is said to mess with electrical devices and compasses. 

In old school D&D terms this gives us an interesting monster that seems like it might carry some sort of electric charge. The disruption of electronics is unlikley to be a thing in a fantasy setting, so we can make this into it carrying and active electrical ability and being resistent to or immune to things like lightning and such. We can even extapolate on the purpose of the long tail. Like the illustration below, it may simply be a swimming tool but we can also make it into an attack, with the Ape Cat using it's tail to lash at or even snare enemies and zapping them with its electricity. 

APE CAT (B/X)

No. Encountered: 1 (or maated pair)
Alignment: Neutral
Move: 150' (50'), 100' (30') swimming
Armor Class: 6
Hit Dice: 4+4
No. of Attacks: 2 claws or tail*
Damage/Attack: 1d4/1d4 or *save vs dragon breath or 2d10 damage from shocking tail.
Save: F2
Morale: 10
Treasure Type: U

The ape cat is a magical creature of unknown origin, Some say, like the owlbear, that the creature is the magical melding of two creatures though others believe it to be a relative of the displacer beast, though there is little to substnatiate either. Ape cats prefer rocky areas near bodies of water such as river gorges or alpine lakes. They are not found on oceans coastlines though and seem to prefer inland haunts where they can retreat to the brush and trees when not stalking prey or fishing in the waters. 

These creatures have the ability to generate an electric charge and use their 6ft-long tails as a lash with which to attack and stun prey. In water, they can discharge their electicity around them, stunning small prey but not enough to damage anything larger than fish or small animals. When threatened, the air around the hums and their fur stands on end, showing they are charged and ready to strike. 

Ape cats are solitary except during mating seasons, when they pair up, often with the same makte year to year. Ape cats prefer to make their dens in the sides of the cliffs and bluffs they hunt from, digging shallow holeso r using natural cave where they will raise broods of 2-5 kittens. While ape cats are of only animal intelligence, they can mimic humanoid-sounding noises, often giving the illusion of speach without actually saying anything.