Talisman Tigers are formidable, stocky feline predators that prowl abandoned structures and ruins, known for their imposing physical and magical prowess. Equipped with powerful limbs and jaws lined with four elongated saber-like fangs, they are highly efficient hunters capable of swiftly taking down most prey. Their most distinctive feature, however, is their connection to arcane magic, which manifests through a glowing, shifting mane of pure energy that runs along their back and down their long, flowing tails. This magical mane pulses with their emotions, glowing a fierce red when angered, and is a symbol of dominance—the larger the mane, the stronger the individual's magical capabilities.
Legend says the first Talisman Tiger was once a common domesticated Catamew, transformed through arcane experimentation into a powerful predator. Although they cannot cast traditional spells, they use their magic to phase in and out of the material plane, allowing them to navigate tight corridors and ambush unsuspecting prey, such as juvenile Ruin Wreckers or Battery Rams, despite their large size. Their love for magic goes beyond their arcane mane—Talisman Tiger are able to sense magical artifacts and siphon their power using their saber teeth. They feed not just on meat but also on magical energy, making them a deadly threat to both mages and magical creatures alike.
In times of scarcity, Talisman Tigers have been known to turn on each other, committing cannibalism to absorb their rival's magic and territory, solidifying their status as the apex predator of their desolate, arcane environments.
This CR8 creature is called a Talisman Tiger and is a Monstrosity that lives mostly within the Ruins.