Minimal Mammal

A minimal is a half-scale copy of a normal animal, alike in body and habits but usually less dangerous.

They fight just as their full-sized kin do, and some of the meat-eaters are even more aggressive. Their reduced size worsens Armor Class by 2 and cuts movement by a third, rounded up.

The name is a casual shortening of 'small animals.' Minimals live mostly in isolated or sealed-off places, where there is an 80% chance they are the only mammals present; large predators would quickly wipe them out. Any type is 50% likely to be more common than its full-sized cousin, and undiscovered kinds surely lurk elsewhere.

Brownies, pixies and other small humanoids sometimes keep them, especially in remote areas. Halflings and other short folk value tame minimals as pets they can actually manage.

Minimals were made on purpose, by magic similar to that used to breed giant insects and reptiles. Apart from size they have the same needs as normal animals. Unlike enlarged monsters, they survive better, needing less food and range. Their hides fetch 2/3 the price of normal ones.