Greater Leucrotta

In its true form a changesteed shares the common leucrotta's frame: 7 feet at the shoulder, 9 feet long, a stag's body, goat-like cloven hooves, a lion's tail and a badger's head. Its coat is gray, going black over the neck and head; its razor teeth are a sickly greenish-gray and its milky eyes are empty of feeling. It mimics voices and noises to lure prey and speaks the common tongue, its own language and at least one other it hears regularly.

Its bite deals 3d6 edged damage. It may release to bite another foe or hang on, dealing 3d6 every round until it lets go or dies; pulling free takes a Strength check at -2 and costs damage equal to a bite. A bitten shield must save vs. crushing blow or be ruined, after which armor is tested on later hits.

It can become any M or L sized four-legged creature it has studied for over a turn, usually a horse or stag, but some manage watchdogs, griffons, hippogriffs or owlbears. Each change takes a round, during which its true shape shows for about 15 seconds. In a borrowed form it takes on that animal's Strength, speed, Armor Class and movement, so it can gallop or fly away, but its teeth stay its own, along with the bite's THAC0 and damage.

Cats sense something wrong and avoid it in any form. True seeing, psionics and other magic that reads intelligence or alignment exposes it, though few think to test an animal.

Its disguises let it live in almost any temperate land, and it works alongside other creatures rather than just eating them. In one notorious partnership, greater doppelgangers posing as paladins ride changesteeds as warhorses through a great city. Changesteeds keep their breath and dens free of carrion reek, since the smell would betray any disguise.

Unlike their cousins they are not outcasts. Flattered and given good reasons, they make capable allies for clever thieves and other rogues, carrying riders only as equal or senior partners and wanting only food, so the treasure goes to their companions.

Their hides make boots of springing and striding and, prepared correctly, can duplicate a cloak of elvenkind. Their hooves make prized heels for boots of varied tracks, which leave the prints of wolves, stags, horses, goats or dogs.