Cat [Forgotten Realms]

Slim and short-furred, black or golden, the luck eater can never physically hurt anyone, yet creatures meeting it suffer -5 to surprise. Its soft purr enthralls every creature within 30 feet that fails a save vs. spell at -2; those who succeed must save again each round they stay in range. Enthralled creatures want to carry the cat along and keep it safe, and it lets them, staying 1d4+1 hours and purring the whole while.

While it travels with them, everyone within 30 feet takes -2 on ability checks, saves, and attacks, and has its damage cut by 10%. Somehow the cat feeds on the probability it bends.

If three turns pass with no one in range rolling anything, it grows hungry and its purr changes: every past victim saves vs. spell each round within 30 feet or attacks the next creature encountered. After another 30 minutes unfed, the purr shifts again, and a failed save means turning on whoever is closest, ally or enemy, though never the cat. The brawl rages until someone dies or ten rounds pass, and the cat slips away during it. Either way it leaves once its 1d4+1 hours are up, and its former hosts come to their senses 1d6 turns after getting clear of its aura.

Ancient magic made the change cat two animals in one. Normally it is an ordinary domestic cat in every respect, but at will it becomes a big plains hunter much like a cheetah (the listed statistics). Shifting takes one round, and it can keep either shape indefinitely, preferring the small one outside combat. In large form it can sprint for two rounds at movement 45, then must rest two rounds before sprinting again.

A cat-loving wizard who disliked guards bred the first ones long ago as pets and treasure sentinels. Many now run wild, but they still live in wealthy and powerful households. They are fond of elves, half-elves, and humans, wary of halflings, dwarves, and gnomes, and hostile toward orcs, half-orcs, and goblins. When one of its favored races shows it kindness, a change cat often (75%) adopts that person and follows him about, never hinting at its gifts; should its friend come under attack, it has an even (50%) chance to transform and defend him.