Dire badgers, also known as giant badgers, were bigger, tougher, smarter cousins of regular badgers. There were known to be animal companions of rangers, druids, and gnome cavaliers.[5][2]
Description[]
These short and tough creatures had thick brown fur, short legs, and dangerously sharp claws. Their pointed faces had a mouth of sharp teeth.[1]
Behavior[]
Dire badgers tended to live in solitude or cetes of up to five animals. They were fiercely territorial in the wild. They laired underground in the tunnels they burrowed. Their tough claws could dig through most things but rocks and the tunnels' diameter was around 5 feet (1.5 meters).[1]
Combat[]
In combat, dire badgers became a fierce ball of claws and teeth, attacking their opponents relentlessly. Being hurt in battle sent them into a berserk rage and they fought even more ferociously. The rage only ended when the danger had passed or either the opponent or the dire badger was dead. They were territorial and fiercely defended their territory.[1][7]
Ecology[]
Dire badgers were known to be tamed and trained to serve as mounts.[8] Gnomes used trained dire badgers for their elite cavalry, aided by the riders having the ability to speak with animals once a day. A dire badger youth could cost around 100 gp with additional 15 gp to pay for their training. Upkeep of a domesticated or trained badger could come to up to 8 gp per month.[9]
Wild dire badgers could be found in the Forest of Amtar of Dambrath,[3] as well as in the lands of Unther.[4]
Dire badgers were one of the animals that could be summoned via the summon creature I spell.[5]
Uses[]
Gnomes occasionally used dire badgers as guard animals.[7]
History[]
In 1374 DR, the Cult of Tiamat in Unther fed dire badgers and other dangerous creatures to Grelixtralithimon, a redspawn birther.[4]
Notable Dire Badgers[]
- Zulkir was the awakened dire badger companion of Ryngoth, a member of the Cult of the Dragon in the ruins of Myth Drannor circa 1369 DR.[10]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor • Tyranny of the Dragon Queen
- Video Games
- Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights 2
Connections[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 81. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
- ↑ David Noonan, Jesse Decker, Michelle Lyons (August 2004). Races of Stone. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-3278-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ David Noonan, Jesse Decker, Michelle Lyons (August 2004). Races of Stone. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 161. ISBN 0-7869-3278-3.
- ↑ Sean K. Reynolds (2000). Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-1710-5.