Monster Monday: Amphicyon, Prehistoric Bear-Dog

Today's Monster Monday is amphicyon, also known as the bear-dog, a prehistoric predator related to both bears and dogs, which had features of each. The largest bear dog species had the size and power of grizzly bears, while smaller bear-dogs acted more like wolves. The bear dog statted up below is somewhere in between - a predator with the bulk and strength of a black bear, but a more wolf-like head and tail.

Reconstruction of the amphicyonid Ysengrinia
from an article by Borja Figueirido, Juan A. Pérez-Claros, Robert M. Hunt, Jr., and Paul Palmqvist, drawing by Óscar San−Isidro, via Wikimedia

Amphicyonids in all their myriad forms roamed across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa from 46 to 1.8 million years ago. The larger, more bear-like species were probably omnivorous, but ate more meat than modern brown and black bears. The smaller amphicyonid species could be represented by the stat blocks for wolf, dog, or dire racoon, or by applying the young simple template to the stat block below. Giant amphicyonids like amphicyon ingens can be made by applying the giant simple template.

Also, I bet their cub-puppies were adorable.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This dog-like predator has strong forearms and a long canine snout showing sickle-like teeth

Bear-Dog (Amphicyon)           CR 4

XP 1,200

N Medium animal

Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+2 Dex, +5 natural)

hp 42 (5d8+20)

Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +2

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee 2 claws +8 (1d4+5 plus grab), bite +8 (1d8+5)

STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8

Base Atk +3; CMB +8 (+14 grapple); CMD 20 (24 vs trip)

Feats Endurance, Improved Grapple^B, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills Acrobatics +6, Perception +9, Stealth +7; Racial Modifiers +0 skill

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate

Organization solitary, pair, pack (3-5)

Treasure none

The bear dog, or amphicyon, is related to both bears and dogs and shows many features of both. It is the size of a black bear, with stout forearms like a grizzly, but with the long snout and wicked teeth of a dire wolf and a long, thick tail. They are omnivores, but eat more meat than bears of their size. Bear dogs tend to be solitary creatures, but in places where large game is plentiful they join up into small packs to hunt and feed.

   The stats above represent an average bear dog, but some species of amphicyon grow to even larger sizes. The giant bear dog is a bear dog with the Giant Simple Template.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• A strange creature, rumored to be half-wolf, half-bear, has been terrorizing local shepherds' flocks.
• With his dying breaths, a ranger entrusts a pair of bear-dog cub-puppies to the party to protect them from a cruel bard who wants them for his carnival's menagerie.
• A giant bear dog from beyond the glacier-pass has moved into the nearby woods and is driving black bears and wolves out of its new territory and into nearby villages.
• A tribe of wood elves who worship bear-dogs have animated an ancient bear-dog skeleton and are following it around in a religious frenzy as it rampages from town to town. 

-your caniform d20 despot