Jason Andresen (order #1578489) - Jump page for Jubei

Gorax
Large Monstrous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (19 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
AC: 13 (-1 size, -1 Dex, +5 natural),
touch 8, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+11
Attack: Claw +6 melee (1d6+4)
Full Attack: 2 claws +6 melee (1d6+4) and
bite +1 melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., scent
The gorax is a distant cousin to the ogrun, though
more animal in instinct and habit. In appearance
they resemble some mad cross between an ogrun
and a bear. These may be, in fact, the direct precursors
to the ogrun growing in number today, but unlike
their brainier (albeit barely) cousins, the gorax is a
breed on the decline. They have suffered in past
decades from being hunted for their young.
Up until recent years, beastmasters were
paying good coin for gorax pups, since
various armies were employing these
beasts as forward shock troops. “Send
in the g’raxies!” was a call often heard
on battlefields. During these times, the
beasts perished in the thousands. Those
that survived the battle were often put
down regardless. Once they had the
taste of blood during the heat of
battle, they were all the more difficult
to control, and it was often
more feasible to start training
a new lot. However, the cost of
feeding them and their feral natures
made this a passing frenzy in time,
and it is becoming more and more
rare to see gorax in captivity anymore.
Still, they are hunted and captured
in smaller numbers. A popular
trend in the past fifty years
throughout the larger cities—primarily
in underground circles—is gorax pit fighting. I witnessed
such an event not so long ago, and to see money changing hands
as these roaring, slavering brutes tore each other apart for the
82
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 8, Con 14,
Int 5, Wis 10, Cha 5
Skills: Listen +2, Spot +2
Feats: Improved Initiative, Run
Environment: Any land or underground
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (3–6)
Challenge Rating: 2
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: 4–9 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
entertainment of the masses produced a sinking feeling in my
stomach. I don’t know why I feel a certain sense of pity for these
beasts—perhaps it is because, in my opinion, they are so much
more animal than monster. Just recently these battling creatures
have become common fare in the Corvis Arena (I thought I
saw some councilors and other notables frequenting the
pit fighting dens!).
All in all, today these creatures
are rarely captured (unless for
the aforementioned pit fights).
Instead, they are simply exterminated
when they cross into
human territory, which may be
for the best since whenever this
happens the results are generally
ugly. Gorax are meat-eaters most
definitely, and man can often be
found near the top of the menu.
One last interesting fact
for this entry; “like stink on a
g’rax” is a well-known phrase,
but it may surprise anyone not
in the know that the distinct
smell of a gorax is not just from
its sweat—and whatever other
odors it’s been rolling in—but from
its saliva. For men, saliva is merely a
digestive aid—and sometimes a
disgusting missile of indignation
for those of lesser breeding—but
for the gorax, saliva is a distinctive marker that is used
for two primary reasons. One, in a pack environment, gorax
spit on their food in order to claim it from other members of
Jason Andresen (order #1578489) 9