Ancient Animals

I've put together a generic bestiary for Barbarians of Lemuria. I know the system is so simple as to allow almost
anything to be made up on the fly but I wanted to have a basic toolkit available for those occasions when I don't
feel quite so creative.
I'm limiting the scope of the bestiary because I want to avoid the usual D&D-influenced range of giant versions
of modern animals or insects, the polyglot mix of creatures from a range of mythical backgrounds (though I do
have a fondness for Greek myth), dinosaurs and the familiar mix of near human races and bizarre creatures.
They don't feature in the S&S fiction I read so they're not in the bestiary.
While I've decided to exclude dinosaurs I've included a range of life forms from the last 50 million years on
earth, such as sabre-toothed cats, mammoths and flightless carnivorous birds. These creatures seem to me to be
a better fit for S&S, being historical yet with the right ante-diluvian feel, though I know there are anachronisms
as man didn't meet all of them and they are from a wide range of time periods and climate zones. I have retained
the names we use now for these creatures but would suggest the GM uses local names when describing them,
less scientific and more in keeping with their particular setting. Personally I probably will include some modern
animals such as hunting dogs and horses but the GM is free to decide for themselves.
A note about the system
While I might include some normal animals I would rarely determine stats for these unless it was likely to
come up in a game. For example a dog might be used for hunting or as a guard whereas a domestic cat isn't
included. Similarly a horse may need to be controlled or broken or a falcon's hunting skill tested.
The abilities of each animal could be generalised into a "Nature", the equivalent of careers, which lets the GM
wrap a whole series of features into one score. Hence a vanilla riding horse might have "Horse 1" whereas a
fierce, battle-trained stallion might have "Horse 4" Any rolls regarding the horse's reactions, skills (or whatever
the GM wants) can be made against their Nature. Abilities and specific attack types, skills, flaws etc. can be
customised for that creature using the standard character and fauna rules.
This system could be applied to the animals belowshould the GM so desire.
Dave Bell
Blaydon
August 2009

The text for these notes is in part adapted from rules originally written for the GURPS system and from
information related to the BBC Television series Walking with Beasts. Images are used without permission
from two very useful websites should further information be required. These are
http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/biodiversity/karen/index.htm and http://www.abc.net.au/beasts/evidence/
No challenge is intended to the rightful owners.

Aurochs
Wt: 1,000-2,500 lbs.
Habitats: Plains, Forest
The aurochs was the ancestor of modem
domestic cattle. Well-known by primitive
humans, it was hunted and domesticated
extensively. Treat aurochs like any other
herd herbivore - they will flee if threatened.
Males protect the herd, and will attack like
bull cattle by charging and trampling.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Horns
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

4
-1
-2

+0 / D6
+2 / D6
0
1
20

Bear-Dog, Giant
Weight: 1-1 1/2 tons
Habitats: Jungle, Forest, Plains
Andrewsarchus is the scientific name of this
animal of 50 million years ago. Although
called a giant bear-dog, it was related to
neither bears nor dogs. It stood about 6 feet
at the shoulder and was 11 feet long - its
head alone was more than a yard long.
Judging from its teeth, it was carnivorous.
From its size, it couldn't have been very fast;
however, the Eocene had many slowmoving herbivores for it to prey upon. Little
is known of its habits; assume that it will
attack fearlessly, with intent to devour.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind

5
2
0

Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite

+4 / D6+2

Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

3
1
30

Cave Bear
Weight: 1,200-1,600 lbs.
Habitats: Mountains, Forest
Cave bears of the Pleistocene were about the same
size as modem polar bears and Kodiaks. They were
almost completely vegetarian, and went into caves
only during their winter hibernation. It seems early
humans hunted them frequently - many cave bear
remains showsigns of consumption by humans.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite
Attack - Claws
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

5
2
1

+4 / D6+2
+2 / D6+2
3
2
30

Cave Lion
Weight: 500-700 lbs.
Habitats: Mountain, Plains
These large cats lived during the Pleistocene
and were frequently hunted by humans. It
was 25 percent bigger than lions today and
was up to about 11.5 ft (3.5 m) long. Little is
known about their habits. Assume that they
behave similarly to modem lions, although it
is likely that they do not fear humans.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite
Attack - Claws
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

3
2
0

+3 / D6
+1 / D6
3
1
20

Crocodile, Giant
Weight: 1-2 tons
Habitats: Forest Wetlands, Swamp
These animals lived throughout the age of
dinosaurs. They grewto a length of 50 feet and
were true crocodiles in all respects. As far as
tactics go, treat them like their modem relatives.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite
Attack - Tail
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

8
1
-1

+2 / 2D6-1
+2 / 2D6-1
0
3
40

Dinohyus
Weight: 1,600-2,000 lbs.
Habitats: Forest
Dinohyus is a giant warthog-like hoofed mammal
that flourished 25 million years ago. It is only
distantly, if at all, related to the modern pig. This
herbivore (it ate plants, including roots) had a
long skull, a small braincase, a pair of knob-like
protrusions on the back of the lower jaw(in the
cheek area), blunt incisors, and wide, strong
canine teeth. Its long legs probably made it a fast
runner. The neck was short and stout and there
was a hump on the shoulders formed by spines
along the backbone. It was about 12 feet long and
6 feet high at the shoulder. Its head was 3 feet
long. Treat it as a wild boar doing damage by
trampling or a tusk-slash.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Tusk
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

7
-2
-2

+2 / 2D6
+0 / D6+2
0
2
40

Dire Wolf
Weight: 150-250 lbs.
Habitats: Plains, Mountain, Arctic, Forest
The dire wolf is the sturdy but slowprecursor of the
modern wolf. Dire wolves are active both day and
night, traveling in packs ranging from 4 to 40
animals. Scavengers by nature, dire wolves prey
upon animals in distress - the injured, the old, the
abandoned young. They often attack animals trapped
in mires, rock slides and tar pits. Dire wolves have
no fear of humans. The wolves will attack using pack
tactics. They will not be driven off until they have
suffered at least 50% casualties.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind

3
2
1

Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite

+4 / D6

Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

3
1
20

Elasmotherium
Weight: 3-5 tons
Habitats: Plains
Elasmotherium is an extinct type of rhinoceros, even
larger modem rhinos, with a very long horn. It stands
13 feet tall at the shoulder and is about 7 yards long.
The horn is over two yards long. Like the modem
rhino, it is a solitary animal, active from dawn to dusk.
It will flee humans unless wounded or protecting
young. Treat it as a rhinoceros in all respects not
otherwise covered tens.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Horn
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

9
-3
-2

+2 / 2D6
+0 / 2D6-1
0
4
40

Glyptodont
Wt: 1,500-2,500 lbs.
Habitats: Plains
The glyptodont was a prehistoric animal, related
to the armadillo. Glyptodonts were of many sizes,
the largest being represented here. This creature is
6 feet high, 15 feet long (4 feet is tail!), and 6 feet
wide in the body. It resembles armored dinosaurs
like the ankylosaurus, but is a true mammal. The
skull is broad, more like a turtle's than an
armadillo's. Glyptodonts will never attack. If
threatened, their usual reaction is to withdraw
into their shells and swing their tails until left
alone. They are solitary nocturnal animals. They
have powerful claws (used only for digging) and
only molars - no biting teeth.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind

5
1
-2

Combat Abilities
Attack - Tail

+1 / D6+4

Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

0
4
30

Megaloceros (Irish Elk)

Weight: 1,000+ lbs.
Habitats: Forest
Megaloceros is often confusingly called the
'Irish Elk', although it was technically a deer
rather than an elk. Its closest living relative
is the Fallowdeer, and like this animal it
probably spent much of its time in open
woodland.
This giant member of the deer family died
out just a fewthousand years ago; humans
were probably a leading cause of its
extinction. It stood 6 feet at me shoulder
and bad enormous antlers, with spreads up
to 10 feet being common.
Like all deer, Irish elk were undoubtedly shy
of humans, but may have been dangerous in
the fall, their mating season.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Antlers
Attack Rear Kick
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

3
2
-1

+2 / D6
+0 / D6
2
1
10

Mammoth
Weight: 4-7 tons
Habitats: Plains, Forest, Arctic
Mammoths were Ice Age ancestors of the
elephant, common to North America, Europe
and Asia. Some species were covered with a
thick, woolly hair. They were about 11.5 feet
long, 9.5 feet tall at the shoulder. They
originated some 7 million years ago, and were
hunted to extinction by humans who used the
meat, tusks and hide extensively. There is no
evidence that they were ever domesticated;
assume that they can be, using the same
techniques used on modem elephants.
Mammoths evolved from mastodons, and were
larger, with higher skulls, shorter jaws and
heavier hair. They also were found in a wider
range of habitats. Their hard, high-crowned
molars were designed to chewup prairie grasses
and other tough vegetation that the mastodon
could not eat. Mammoths attack by trampling or swinging their long tusks. Some tusks were straight, some were curved; the
longest were up to 13 feet long.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind

11
-2
-1

Combat Abilities
Attack - Tusk
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

+1 / 2D6
+0 / 2D6
0
4
50

Megatherium
Weight: 7-9 tons
Habitats: Jungle, Forest
Megatherium was a giant ground sloth that lived
during the Ice Age. It was a huge, bulky, slowmoving herbivore (plant-eater), the size of an
elephant. It had peg-like teeth, powerful jaws, and a
thick, short tail and had three hook-like claws on
each hand. It was primarily a quadruped (walked on
four legs). It may have eaten leaves from the tops
of trees 20 feet off the ground while standing
upright on its hind legs, using its tail to balance. It
had no biting teeth, only molars, but say have used
its claws to defend it from sabertoothed tigers and
other carnivores. It was most likely a solitary
animal, occasionally found in pairs. It will leave
humans alone, possibly even fleeing from them. If
attacked, however, it will defend itself, swinging
with its claws.

Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind

10
0
0

Combat Abilities
Attack - Claws
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

+2 / 2D6
1
4
60

Phorusrhacos
Habitats: Plains, Forests, Deserts
The first Terror Birds date back to the
Eocene era. Then, however, they were chicken-sized.
In South America, though, they became fierce
predators, and moved into North America when the
two continents collided. They stood about 8 feet tall,
with a head as large as a horse's. They were decidedly
carnivorous, and from the fossil remains, seem to
have hunted in groups. Their wings are small for the
birds'size - about a foot long each - and are quite
useless. The feet are used for kicking like an ostrich,
but the main weapon is undoubtedly the beak.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Beak
Attack - Kick
Defence
Protection - Feathers
Lifeblood

3
3
0

+1 / D6
++0 /
D6+1
2
1
20

Smilodon
Weight: 400-600 lbs.
Habitats: Plains, Forest, Desert
The sabertoothed tiger, known scientifically as the
smilodon, did not really resemble a tiger in anything
but size. Its skeleton more closely resembles that of
a lion, but the stabbing cats diverged from the
biting cats so long ago that sabertooths are not
closely related to any modem animal. Sabertooths
knewearly humans, and were hunted by them.
They probably returned the favor - some human
skulls have been found with sabertooth-sized holes
in them! It is believed that the sabertooth hunted
the great mammals. Their teeth (which sometimes
measured 11 inches long) are serrated and were
adapted for stabbing through the thick skin to the
jugular rather than slashing. They are more solitary
than lions, and will bite repeatedly rather than
biting and holding.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Bite
Attack - Claws
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

6
1
0

+3 / D6+2
+0 /
D6++
3
2
30

Wisent (European bison)

Wt.: 1,000-3,000 lbs.
Habitats: Plains, Forest
The wisent is a European bison. The more
common Ice Age species, often represented in
neolithic cave drawings, was a plains dweller (now
extinct); another species lived in forests. Treat it as
a bison for all purposes.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Horns
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

5
-1
-2

+2 / D6
+0 / D6
0
1
20

Woolly Rhinoceros
Weight: 1-2 tons
Habitats: Arctic, Plains
The woolly rhino was a common figure in
prehistoric cave an. It stood about 4 yards long
and 6 feet at the shoulder, with long shaggy far. It
was a solitary animal, probably active from dusk
through dawn. For all practical purposes treat it as
a modern rhino other than it inhabits a much
colder climate. It will usually flee humans, but
occasionally one will charge - especially a mother
or wounded animal.
Attributes
Strength
Agility
Mind
Combat Abilities
Attack - Horns
Attack - Trample
Defence
Protection - Hide
Lifeblood

7
-1
-2

+2 / D6+1
+0 / D6+1
0
2
30