| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 4 | −3 | −3 |
| DEX | 16 | +3 | +3 |
| CON | 13 | +1 | +1 |
| Mod | Save | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| INT | 3 | −4 | −4 |
| WIS | 12 | +1 | +1 |
| CHA | 7 | −2 | −2 |
Keen Hearing and Smell. The chiroptyderm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
Echolocation: The chiroptyderm can't use its blindsight while deafened.
Prehensile Trunk: The chiroptyderm can use its trunk to manipulate objects up to 5 lbs as if it had a free hand, though it cannot wield weapons or shields.
Familiar. A chiroptyderm can be summoned as a fey spirit familiar through the Find Familiar spell or ritual, forming a magic, telepathic bond with that willing companion. Loxodon wizards often favor chiroptyderms for obvious reasons. While bonded, the summoner can sense what the chiroptyderm familiar senses as long as they are within 1 mile of each other.
Charge. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Trumpet (Recharge 5-6 on 1d6): The chiroptyderm lets out a high-pitched, sonic blast through its trunk. Each creature within a 10-foot cone originating from the chiroptyderm must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save it would take 3 (1d4 + 1) thunder damage and be deafened for 1 round for each point below the DC of 11 that was rolled (1 round if rolled a 10, 10 rounds if rolled a 1). There is no damage or effect on a successful save.
Description
Sometimes jokingly called probosciflies, chiroptyderms are tiny fey creatures that were likely originally brought to life from the dreams of some powerful archfey. They are strange hybrids with the head of an elephant and a proportionally small body that has features of both bats and an elephants. The ears of the elephant look like bat wings, and indeed can fly quite well by flapping its wing-ears. Its body has two small legs and two arms, allowing it to walk slowly upright or on all fours. A second pair of long scrawny arms extend from its shoulders where a bat's wings would normally be. Chiroptyderms bat wings however take the place of its ears. Despite the seemingly ungainly flapping ears, a Chiroptyderm is quite dexterous in the air.
- The Trunk: Unlike a standard owl or bat familiar, the Chiroptyderm can actually grab things. It’s perfect for delivering a potion, pulling a lever, or stealing a key.
- Blindsight: It combines the elephant's legendary memory/scent with the bat's sonar, making it an incredible scout.
- The "Loxodon Connection": If the Chiroptyderm serves as a familiar to a Loxodon some quirk of their shared elephant heritage and the telepathic connection between familiar and summoner allows the summoner to cast the Message cantrip (if they know it) through the Chiroptyderm significantly extending the spells range by 1-mile, the range of the summoner and familiar telepathic connection. Chiroptyderms are often used as messenger 'pigeons' by Loxodons for this reason, capable of flying off and finding someone a mile away and delivering a whispered message to them.
"The tower has been far too quiet since the passing of my old mastiff, and the standard ravens provided by the Find Familiar ritual are simply too... flighty. They lack the gravitas required of a scholar of the Arcane.
After months of tweaking the somatic components and substituting the brass brazier’s incense with dried acacia leaves and fermented fruit, the ritual finally bore fruit—or rather, a head.
It manifested first as a low, resonant hum that vibrated the tusks in my own jaw. Then, from the smoke emerged the Chiroptyderm. To a human, I suppose it looks absurd—a leathery, floating head with spindly limbs clutching at the air—but to me, it is a masterpiece of symmetry.
It spent the first hour hovering at my eye level, flapping those magnificent auricular wings with a rhythmic whump-whump that sounds like a distant jungle drum. Its trunk is marvelously dexterous; it has already learned to hold my spectacles while I wash my face, and it seems to have an uncanny ability to find the exact jar of ink I’ve misplaced.
I’ve named him Pippin. He possesses the noble soul of the Great Herd but the maneuverability of a cave-glider. When he sleeps, he hangs upside down from my bookshelf by his rear hooks, wrapping his trunk around his tusks like a grey, wrinkled cocoon.
Note to self: The sonic trumpet is louder than anticipated. I must remember to warn the apprentices before Pippin gets excited by the smell of morning buns. My ears are still ringing."
- "Entry 412: The Success of the 'Echo-Pachyderm'", From the Travel-Logs of Archmage Balan-Koz, Loxodon Chronurgist
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