based on another pic i have saved in my inspo folder in forever!
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Aypa
“River Cat, or Leon del Lago” © deviantArt user Viergacht, accessed at his gallery here
[They might not be as famous as hairy hominids or lake monsters, but mystery cats are probably just as diverse in cryptozoological lore. They range in plausibility from ABCs, or Alien Big Cats (at least some of the wild cats reported in Britain were demonstrably real animals) all the way to water tigers and water lions. Personally, I think the idea that saber toothed cats have survived in the rivers of South America and Africa has more to do with colonialism (much like living dinosaurs, “primitive” animals get placed in “primitive” countries) than with actual science. But Viergacht’s speculative take on an aquatic descendant of the jaguarundi is very cool, and I wanted to make statistics for it. I chose the aypa from the many names for water tigers because it’s said to have scales, which matches the beaver-like tail in the image.]
Aypa
CR 3 N Animal
This creature looks something like a cross between a cat and an otter. It has a long skull and eyes near the top of its head, a thick tail with scaly skin, and oversized canine teeth.
Aypa, also known as river cats, are large felines that have evolved to a fill a semi-aquatic niche, similar to that of crocodilians. They are common in waters where caimans and crocodiles are not, and these cats compete fiercely with them where their ranges overlap. An aypa is a generalist predator. Land-bound prey is grabbed when it comes to the water’s edge and dragged in to be drowned or torn apart, whereas aquatic prey is chased down in the water. River cats rarely pursue terrestrial prey, as they are slow on land compared to other cats.
Aypa are sexually dimorphic, with the males being larger than the females. Females build dens out of sticks and mud, something like an oversized beaver lodge, in which to raise their cubs. Males are constantly on the move, and their territories usually overlap several smaller female territories. Males are much more aggressive in territorial defense than the females are, and as such usually have shorter lifespans.
Aypa as Animal Companions
Use the statistics for a big cat, except that it has a land speed of 30 feet and a swim speed of 40 feet. An aypa has the hold breath special quality as a level 1 animal companion and does not gain a rake attack. At level 7, an aypa animal companion gains smother as a special attack.
Aypa CR 3
XP 800
N Large animal
Init +7; Senses low-light vision, Perception +9, scent
Defense
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 32 (5d8+10)
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d8+5 plus grab), 2 claws +7 (1d6+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, smother
Statistics
Str 21, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +9 (+13 grapple); CMD 22 (26 vs. trip)
Feats Blind-fight, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +9, Stealth +8 (+12 in undergrowth), Swim +17; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth (+8 underwater)
SQ hold breath
Ecology
Environment warm and temperate freshwater
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Attacks
Smother (Ex) A creature or Large or smaller size grappled by an aypa must hold its breath or begin to suffocate.
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A little something I did for lunar new year!
Since it's the year of the water rabbit I wanted to try and see if I could find someting to incorporate the water tiger from last year and then I came across the Chinese rabbit god Tu'er Ye.
He's the moon goddess' rabbit and was sent down from the heavens to cure people. He's also often depicted riding a tiger (or dragon, or kylin, ...)
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Tiger Lilies 2022
Available in my society6 and redbubble!
https://society6.com/product/tiger-and-lilies_stretched-canvas?sku=s6-24215633p16a6v28
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/112709155?ref=studio-promote
follow me over at IG too!
https://www.instagram.com/flumanog/
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I recently uploaded a WIP to one of my favorite images from 2022. You can learn a little about how I executed this project in celebration of the Water Tiger. While you're there, have a look around!
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