For this month I will be endeavouring to post a stat block for a single mundane animal each day.
This is pretty straightforward as such projects go, but there are a few parameters I've set myself for this project.
I'll be doing my level best to avoid covering any animals that already have stat-blocks in Ars Magica 5e and have already made a (probably incomplete) list so I'll know which ones to avoid. That being said, there are multiple conflicting 'Wolf' statistics in canon...
I'll be sticking to animals that can be found within the regions of the world covered by Ars Magica so mostly Europe with the occasional forays into the Middle-East or North Africa.
Preference is given to animals that I feel will be useful in play - as familiars, shapeshifter forms, the base for different monsters, etc.
Apart from this introduction and my list of prospective animals, no work will be done prior to November 1st. Furthermore, 30 beasts will be eventually be posted even if if requires extending into December or beyond.
Addendum: Item #4 proved particularly fortuitous in light of how finicky my computer is being at the moment...
Narwhal (Unicornus/Monocheros)
Characteristics: Cun 0, Per -2, Pre 0, Com -6, Str +10, Sta +2, Dex +1, Qik -4.
Size: +4
Confidence Score: 0.
Virtues and Flaws: Puissant Swimming
Qualities: Aquatic, Crafty, Herd Animal, Imposing Appearance, Pursuit Predator, Tireless, Tough Hide.
Personality Traits: Cruel +1, Placid +2, Brave -1
Reputation: sea monster +3.
Combat:
Dodge: Init -4, Attack n/a, Defense n/a, Damage n/a.
Tusk: Init -4, Attack +8, Defense +1, Damage +15.
Soak: +4
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0/0, -1/-1, -3/-3, -5, Unconscious.
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-9), -3 (10-18), -5 (19-27), Incapacitated (28-36), Dead (37+)
Abilities: Awareness 2 (fish), Brawl 2 (dodging), Hunt 4 (fish), Survival 3 (sea), Swim 5+2 (sea).
Natural Weapons: Tusk: Init 0, Attack +4, Defense +2, Damage +5. The Narwhal's blubber and thick skin confer a Protection of +2.
Appearance: The narwhal is a large slow-moving fish possessing single spiral horn upon its head.
*obviously the real narwhal isn't a fish. Their 'horn' is actually a tooth and probably isn't used for fighting. Medieval bestiaries, however, describe the creatures using them to sink ships hence I gave them a deadly tusk. More realistic narwhals probably shouldn't have a natural weapon as they are toothless and (presumably) too small to swallow a human-sized prey whole.