Venom Dog

Wizards create two kinds of venom dog, and both keep the build of a mastiff. The smaller viper venom dog is a mastiff merged with a pit viper: it wears glossy scales anywhere from black to tan and has a snake's fangs, yet keeps a dog's eyes and eyelids. The larger scorpion venom dog is an ordinary-looking mastiff in every way except for a big, venom-tipped scorpion tail arching up from its hindquarters, colored red, brown or black.

Both types bite for 2d4 damage. A viper venom dog's bite carries poison: the victim must save vs. poison with a +2 bonus or die the following round. Heat-sensing pits on its snout, like those of the snake it came from, give it the equivalent of 30-foot infravision.

A scorpion venom dog attacks twice each round, once with an ordinary, non-poisonous bite and once with its stinger. It may aim both at one foe or split them between two. The sting deals 1-3 damage and forces a save vs. poison; failure means death the next round. Scorpion dogs are not immune to their own venom or to that of giant scorpions and similar creatures.

Like any domestic dog, a venom dog lives to serve its master, and it learns quickly. That makes it highly prized as a watchdog, and a puppy of either type can sell for as much as 3,000 gp. Training one does call for care, since the very trait that makes it valuable can kill its trainer. Venom dogs live about 15 years.

Oddly, the scaly viper breed has the more doglike temperament; its pups are raised in litters and learn to work as a pack. Scorpion dogs are solitary and attack their own kind on sight except in mating season, so a wizard keeping several must house them apart. Only the scorpion breed can bark, which makes it the better alarm; the viper breed can manage only a hiss, though an excited one hisses loudly.

Rangers would love one as an animal follower, but wild venom dogs are almost unknown. Nearly all are made to order for wizards or their customers and are treated too well to run away, so a ranger who wants one usually has to buy it like anyone else.

Viper venom dogs eat only meat and swallow their prey whole, snake fashion. A solid meal every few weeks is enough for them, so they are cheap to feed. They shed their skins as they grow, lay leathery eggs that hatch into puppies, and enjoy sunning themselves, even though they are warm-blooded. Scorpion venom dogs have the normal head and teeth of a dog and eat the same food as any other hound.