Leocrotta - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: strategy

2025-04-13T23:51:06Z

strategy

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-04-13T23:28:08Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: finish this off already

2025-04-13T22:14:59Z

finish this off already

Umbire the Phantom: send this bit of smithing before I forget

2025-04-13T21:25:31Z

send this bit of smithing before I forget

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ fix

2025-04-12T23:18:47Z

‎History: fix

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ tweak

2025-04-12T23:17:58Z

‎History: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ word choice

2025-04-12T23:17:23Z

‎History: word choice

Cathartes: /* Strategy */ fix spelling

2023-11-19T04:32:27Z

‎Strategy: fix spelling

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ and some over here

2023-10-16T20:33:17Z

‎Strategy: and some over here

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ try some more trimming

2023-10-16T20:29:47Z

‎Origin: try some more trimming

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal MR score of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], {{of|wand|fire|or=1|lightning}} can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or {{of|wand|slow monster}} enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. [[Engraving]] or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
-Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent [[AC]] are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed.
+Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent [[AC]] are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spellbook of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed. The summon nasties monster spell can often trap a hero with an adjacent leocrotta and other hard-hitters while leaving them few or no means to step away, so [[escape item]]s are also quite welcome.
 ===As a pet===

@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the leocrotta [[Hits creatures as +x weapon|hits as a +2 weapon]], and is no longer visible via infravision.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the leocrotta [[Hits creatures as +x weapon|hits as a +2 weapon]], and is not visible via infravision.
 Leocrottas are a decent polyform for [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppelganger]] heroes that reach [[experience level]] 6: they are strong, fast and quite powerful, but cannot use weapons or armor and lack hands to open doors or operate most [[tool]]s with.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 The leocrotta boasts a fearsome 18 speed and hits hard enough to easily maul even mid-level [[hero]]es&mdash;lower-level characters, especially those that do not specialize in melee, are well-advised to escape using any means possible, as leocrottas often appear before they are fully prepared for them. Strong ranged attacks can even the odds, but the leocrotta may be able to close the gap and deal severe damage before it can be put down.
-Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal MR score of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], {{of|wand|fire|or=1|lightning}} can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or [[wand of slow monster|slow monster]] enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. Engraving or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
+Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal MR score of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], {{of|wand|fire|or=1|lightning}} can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or {{of|wand|slow monster}} enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. [[Engraving]] or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
-Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent AC are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed.
+Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent [[AC]] are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed.
 ===As a pet===
-A leocrotta is not especially remarkable as an "exotic" pet, though it is a decent [[steed]] due to its high movement speed and attacks, and its omnivorous diet makes it easy to keep fed. A [[warhorse]] still outperforms a leocrotta in most aspects, especially in terms of speed (24 base speed for a warhorse vs. 18 for a leocrotta) and ease of taming with [[vegan]] and [[vegetarian]] food.
+A leocrotta is not especially remarkable as an "exotic" pet, though it is a decent [[steed]] due to its high movement speed and attacks, and its omnivorous diet makes it easy to keep fed. A [[warhorse]] still outperforms a leocrotta in most aspects, especially in terms of speed (24 base speed for a warhorse vs. 18 for a leocrotta) and the ease of taming one with [[vegan]] and [[vegetarian]] food.
 ==History==
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the leocrotta is a decent polyform for [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppelgangers]] that reach [[experience level]] 6: they are [[strong]], fast and quite powerful, but cannot use weapons or armor and lack hands to open doors or operate most tools with.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the leocrotta [[Hits creatures as +x weapon|hits as a +2 weapon]], and is no longer visible via infravision.
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], leocrottas are classified as [[Fey (dNetHack)|fey]] monsters.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], leocrottas are [[fey]] monsters, and all six of their AC points are in the dodge category.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
@@ Line 70: / Line 72: @@
 ... the leucrocotta, a wild beast of extraordinary swiftness, the size of the wild ass, with the legs of a Stag, the neck, tail, and breast of a lion, the head of a badger, a cloven hoof, the mouth slit up as far as the ears, and one continuous bone instead of teeth; it is said, too, that this animal can imitate the human voice.
 |[ Curious Creatures in Zoology, by John Ashton ]}}
 {{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
   |frequency=2
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Claw 2d6, Bite 2d6, Claw 2d6
+  |attacks=Claw 2d6 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Bite]] 2d6 physical, Claw 2d6 physical
   |weight=1200
   |nutr=500
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''leocrotta''', {{monsym|leocrotta}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The leocrotta is an [[omnivorous]] [[quadruped]]al [[animal]] that has two claw attacks and a bite attack, and moves faster than an unburdened player at [[fast]] [[speed]].
+A '''leocrotta''', {{monsym|leocrotta}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The leocrotta is an [[omnivorous]] [[quadruped]] that is the fastest of its [[monster class]], and is one of only two monsters in that group to possess any [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]].
-[[Chat]]ting to a leocrotta causes it to imitate you.
+Leocrottas possess a claw attack, a [[bite]] attack and a second claw attack.
 ==Generation==
-Leocrottas are always generated hostile. A leocrotta can be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
+Randomly generated leocrottas are always created hostile.
 ==Strategy==
-At 18 speed, the leocrotta is the fastest monster among the quadrupeds, and hits hard enough to easily maul even mid-level characters. Low-level characters - especially those that do not specialize in melee - are well-advised to escape using any means possible, as a leocrotta often appears before they are fully prepared for it; strong ranged attacks can even the odds, but the leocrotta may be able to close the gap before it can be put down.
+The leocrotta boasts a fearsome 18 speed and hits hard enough to easily maul even mid-level [[hero]]es&mdash;lower-level characters, especially those that do not specialize in melee, are well-advised to escape using any means possible, as leocrottas often appear before they are fully prepared for them. Strong ranged attacks can even the odds, but the leocrotta may be able to close the gap and deal severe damage before it can be put down.
-Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], [[wand of fire|fire]] or [[wand of lightning|lightning]] can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or [[wand of slow monster|slow monster]] enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. Engraving or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
+Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal MR score of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], {{of|wand|fire|or=1|lightning}} can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or [[wand of slow monster|slow monster]] enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. Engraving or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
 Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent AC are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed.
@@ Line 44: / Line 48: @@
 {{Wikipedia|Crocotta}}
 [[Image:Leucrotta_by_neothera_d1bbfrm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An oil painting of a leucrotta]]
-The leucrocotta is a creature that originates in the writings of [[wikipedia:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]]. It is based on the crocotta (also known as a corocotta or crocuta) of Indian and Ethiopian folklore: a mythical dog-wolf that is described by [[wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]] as a deadly enemy of men and dogs. The leucrocotta is described in Pliny's ''[[wikipedia:Naturalis Historia|Naturalis Historia]]'' as "the swiftest of all beasts, about the size of an ass [donkey], with a stag's haunches, a lion's neck, tail and breast, badger's head, cloven hoof, mouth opening right back to the ears, and ridges of bone in place of rows of teeth—this animal is reported to imitate the voices of human beings".
+The leucrocotta is a creature that originates in the writings of [[wikipedia:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]], and is based on the crocotta (also known as a corocotta or crocuta) of Indian and Ethiopian folklore: the crocotta is a mythical dog-wolf that is described by [[wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]] as a deadly enemy of men and dogs. Both creatures are likely based on the [[wikipedia:Spotted hyena|spotted hyena]], an animal known for scavenging and digesting a wide range of foods that is capable of unnervingly human-like vocalizations, such as its famous 'laugh' - its scientific name (''Crocuta crocuta'') is derived from the crocotta, and local folklore attributes shape-shifting abilities and mimicry of human speech to hyenas.
-In ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the leucrotta is an evil being created from [[Yeenoghu]]'s first ancient incursion of the Material Plane, where they were a common result of hyenas consuming his kills and undergoing aberrant transformations. It has a reputation as a hideous creature due to its noxious stench, awful breath, glowing red eyes, and constant drooling - most beings, particularly druids, shun leucrottas and loathe their very existence. A leucrotta can move as fast as a normal-size warhorse, and fights using jaw ridges that can tear through armor and flesh, and hooves that are used to batter and disable prey or else kick foes from the rear before making sudden retreats.
+Pliny's description of the leucrocrotta is used for the creature's appearance in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where it is known as the leucrotta and debuts in the 1st Edition ''Monster Manual''. This appearance in turn is the basis for the ''NetHack'' leocrotta's stat line, its default [[tile]] and ability to imitate the player character when spoken to. The leucrotta of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' is an evil being created from [[Yeenoghu]]'s first ancient incursion of the Material Plane, where they are a common result of hyenas consuming his kills and undergoing aberrant transformations&mdash;it became known as a hideous creature due to its noxious stench, awful breath, glowing red eyes, and constant drooling, and most beings, particularly druids, shun leucrottas and loathe their very existence. A leucrotta can move as fast as a normal-sized warhorse, and fights using jaw ridges that can tear through armor and flesh, as well as hooves that can batter and disable prey or else kick foes from the rear, with sudden retreats mixed in.
-The leucrotta is frighteningly intelligent: it can imitate the voices of other animals and even humanoids to lure prey into simple-but-effective traps, and can even speak languages such as Common. The leucrotta is also a proficient stalker with a strong sense of smell and difficult-to-distinguish tracks, and prefers to hunt isolated targets in order to avoid being overwhelmed by other humanoids seeking to find or avenge their missing kin; a leucrotta will also collect gemstones specifically for trap material or bargaining chips. It is cruel and opportunistic, hunting for sport as much as for food, and tends to draw out its kills as long as possible. A leucrotta will stick to familiar territory when possible, leaving only when there is a clear danger or a lack of prey.
+Leucrottas are frighteningly intelligent and it can imitate the voices of other animals and humanoids to lure prey into simple-but-effective traps, and can even speak languages such as Common. They are cruel and opportunistic hunters and proficient stalkers with a strong sense of smell and difficult-to-distinguish tracks: a leucrotta prefers to hunt isolated targets and avoid being overwhelmed by other humanoids seeking to find or avenge their missing kin; they hunt for sport as much as for food, and tend to draw out kills as long as possible. A leucrotta will stick to familiar territory when possible, leaving only when there is a clear danger or a lack of prey, and will also collect gemstones specifically for trap material or bargaining chips.
 Leucrottas live alone or in small packs and hunt at night, lurking alongside roads and near human habitats, and exhibit a surprising amount of social structure. Though they very occasionally work and hunt with other evil beings, such arrangements are usually ones of mutual gain - leucrottas only ever make these deals out of fear, and will attack once there is no further gain and they can overpower their former partner(s). Gnolls are a notable exception: leucrottas willingly serve as bodyguards, advisers and even mounts for the gnoll currently in charge, and gnolls see leucrottas as a form of entertainment with a cruelty that surpasses their own.

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==History==
-The leocrotta first appears in Hack for PDP-11, a variant of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
+The leocrotta first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
 From Hack for PDP-11 to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the leocrotta used the {{white|l}} glyph. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the leocrotta and several other quadrupeds, most of them newly introduced, are moved to the {{white|q}} glyph.

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 The leocrotta first appears in Hack for PDP-11, a variant of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
-From Hack for PDP-11 to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the leocrotta used the {{white|l}} glyph. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the leocrotta and several newly-introduced quadrupeds are moved to the {{white|q}} glyph.
+From Hack for PDP-11 to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the leocrotta used the {{white|l}} glyph. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the leocrotta and several other quadrupeds, most of them newly introduced, are moved to the {{white|q}} glyph.
 ==Origin==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Strategy==
-At 18 speed, the leocrotta is the fastest monster among the quardupeds, and is a very hard-hitting monster that can easily maul a mid- or low-level character. Low-level characters, especially those that don't specialize in melee, are well-advised to escape using any means possible, as a leocrotta often appears before they can be fully prepared for it; strong ranged attacks can even the odds, but the leocrotta may be able to close the gap before it can be put down.
+At 18 speed, the leocrotta is the fastest monster among the quardupeds, and hits hard enough to easily maul even mid-level characters. Low-level characters - especially those that do not specialize in melee - are well-advised to escape using any means possible, as a leocrotta often appears before they are fully prepared for it; strong ranged attacks can even the odds, but the leocrotta may be able to close the gap before it can be put down.
-Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], [[wand of fire|fire]] or [[wand of lightning|lightning]] can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or [[wand of slow monster|slow monster]] enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. Engraving or burning [[Elbereth]] can be effective at scaring leocrottas away from you.
+Thankfully, leocrottas have no resistances and a minimal [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 10, making wands and spells effective at immobilizing or killing them. A [[wand of cold]], [[wand of fire|fire]] or [[wand of lightning|lightning]] can get a leocrotta off your back fairly reliably, and a [[wand of sleep]] or [[wand of slow monster|slow monster]] enables you to outrun a leocrotta or else bring it down with ranged attacks or wands as above. Engraving or burning [[Elbereth]] can also scare leocrottas away from you.
-Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent AC are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta, a high damage weapon and decent AC is preferred. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster like mentioned above; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them  to escape and heal as needed.
+Fast speed or better, high-damage weapons and decent AC are ideal in the event you are forced into melee combat with a leocrotta. Improved AC and better speed can significantly reduce the amount of damage a leocrotta deals, as can slowing them down with the wand (or [[Spell of slow monster|spell]]) of slow monster; as with many other difficult monsters, you can also fight them from the stairs and walk up or down them to escape and heal as needed.
 ===As a pet===
-A leocrotta is not especially remarkable as an "exotic" pet, though it is a decent [[steed]] due to its high movement speed and attacks, and its omnivorous diet makes it easy to keep fed. A [[warhorse]] still outperforms a leocrotta in most aspects, especially in terms of speed (24 vs. 18 base) and ease of taming with [[vegan]] and [[vegetarian]] food.
+A leocrotta is not especially remarkable as an "exotic" pet, though it is a decent [[steed]] due to its high movement speed and attacks, and its omnivorous diet makes it easy to keep fed. A [[warhorse]] still outperforms a leocrotta in most aspects, especially in terms of speed (24 base speed for a warhorse vs. 18 for a leucrotta) and ease of taming with [[vegan]] and [[vegetarian]] food.
 ==History==

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 {{Wikipedia|Crocotta}}
 [[Image:Leucrotta_by_neothera_d1bbfrm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An oil painting of a leucrotta]]
-The leucrocotta is a creature that originates in the writings of [[wikipedia:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]], and is based on the crocotta (also known as a corocotta or crocuta) of Indian and Ethiopian folklore, a mythical dog-wolf that is said to be a deadly enemy of men and dogs. The leucrocotta is described in the ''[[wikipedia:Naturalis Historia|Naturalis Historia]]'' as "the swiftest of all beasts, about the size of an ass [donkey], with a stag's haunches, a lion's neck, tail and breast, badger's head, cloven hoof, mouth opening right back to the ears, and ridges of bone in place of rows of teeth—this animal is reported to imitate the voices of human beings".
+The leucrocotta is a creature that originates in the writings of [[wikipedia:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]]. It is based on the crocotta (also known as a corocotta or crocuta) of Indian and Ethiopian folklore: a mythical dog-wolf that is described by [[wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]] as a deadly enemy of men and dogs. The leucrocotta is described in Pliny's ''[[wikipedia:Naturalis Historia|Naturalis Historia]]'' as "the swiftest of all beasts, about the size of an ass [donkey], with a stag's haunches, a lion's neck, tail and breast, badger's head, cloven hoof, mouth opening right back to the ears, and ridges of bone in place of rows of teeth—this animal is reported to imitate the voices of human beings".
-Both the leucrocrotta and crocotta, as described by Pliny and [[wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]], are likely based on the [[wikipedia:Spotted hyena|spotted hyena]], an animal known for scavenging and digesting a wide range of foods and making unnervingly human-like vocalizations, such as its famous 'laugh'; its scientific name (''Crocuta crocuta'') is derived from the crocotta, and local folklore attributes shape shifting abilities and mimicry of human speech to hyenas. Pliny's description for the leucrocrotta is used for the creature's appearance in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where it is known as the leucrotta and debuts in the 1st Edition ''Monster Manual''; the leocrotta of ''NetHack'' derives its stat line, appearance and ability to imitate you when spoken to from its ''Dungeons & Dragons'' appearance.
+Both the leucrocrotta and crocotta are likely based on the [[wikipedia:Spotted hyena|spotted hyena]], an animal known for scavenging and digesting a wide range of foods that is capable of unnervingly human-like vocalizations, such as its famous 'laugh' - its scientific name (''Crocuta crocuta'') is derived from the crocotta, and local folklore attributes shape-shifting abilities and mimicry of human speech to hyenas. Pliny's description for the leucrocrotta is used for the creature's appearance in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where it is known as the leucrotta and debuts in the 1st Edition ''Monster Manual''. This appearance in turn is the basis for the ''NetHack'' leocrotta's stat line, appearance and ability to imitate the player character when spoken to.
-The leucrotta is an evil being created from [[Yeenoghu]]'s first ancient incursion of the Material Plane, where the hyenas that consumed his kills underwent aberrant transformations, with the leucrotta being the second most common result. Its noxious stench, awful breath, glowing red eyes, and constant drooling give it a reputation for being hideous. A leucrotta is also frighteningly intelligent and can imitate the voices of other animals and even humanoids to lure prey into simple-but-effective traps; it can even speak Common among some other languages. Though not fully nomadic and preferring to frequent familiar territory, a leucrotta would leave without hesitation when most convenient, e.g. if dangerous predators or localized disasters occurred, or else there was a dearth of prey.
+In ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the leucrotta is an evil being created from [[Yeenoghu]]'s first ancient incursion of the Material Plane, where they were a common result of hyenas consuming his kills and undergoing aberrant transformations. It has a reputation as a hideous creature due to its noxious stench, awful breath, glowing red eyes, and constant drooling - most beings, particularly druids, shun leucrottas and loathe their very existence. A leucrotta can move as fast as a normal-size warhorse, and fights using jaw ridges that can tear through armor and flesh, and hooves that are used to batter and disable prey or else kick foes from the rear before making sudden retreats.
-A leucrotta can move as fast as a normal-size warhorse; its jaw ridges can tear through armor and flesh, and its hooves are used to batter and disable prey or else kick foes from the rear before making sudden retreats. Leucrottas live alone or in small packs and hunt at night, lurking alongside roads and near human habitats; they are clever, cruel and opportunistic, hunting for sport as much as for food, and draw out their kills as long as possible, even when not hungry. A leucrotta is proficient at stalking prey, with a strong sense of smell and difficult-to-distinguish tracks, and it prefers to hunt isolated targets despite its tendency towards cruelty: leucrottas know that most humanoids will notice one of their number going missing and would try to avenge them; they are also forward-thinking enough to collect gemstones, which are otherwise of no interest to them, in order to use as trap material or bargaining chips.
+The leucrotta is frighteningly intelligent: it can imitate the voices of other animals and even humanoids to lure prey into simple-but-effective traps, and can even speak languages such as Common. The leucrotta is also a proficient stalker with a strong sense of smell and difficult-to-distinguish tracks, and prefers to hunt isolated targets in order to avoid being overwhelmed by other humanoids seeking to find or avenge their missing kin; a leucrotta will also collect gemstones specifically for trap material or bargaining chips. It is cruel and opportunistic, hunting for sport as much as for food, and tends to draw out its kills as long as possible. A leucrotta will stick to familiar territory when possible, leaving only when there is a clear danger or a lack of prey.
-Though most beings, particularly druids, shun leucrottas and loathe their very existence, leucrottas could be found in a surprisingly amount of social structures, and very occasionally worked and hunted with other beings, usually stronger evil ones, for mutual gain. Such an arrangement was almost always made out of fear - the leucrotta would attack once the deal was no longer profitable and their former partner was weak enough. Gnolls are a notable exception in this regard: leucrottas willingly serve as bodyguards, advisers and even mounts for the gnoll currently in charge, and gnolls see them as a form of entertainment with a cruelty that surpasses their own.
+Leucrottas live alone or in small packs and hunt at night, lurking alongside roads and near human habitats, and exhibit a surprising amount of social structure. Though they very occasionally work and hunt with other evil beings, such arrangements are usually ones of mutual gain - leucrottas only ever make these deals out of fear, and will attack once there is no further gain and they can overpower their former partner(s). Gnolls are a notable exception: leucrottas willingly serve as bodyguards, advisers and even mounts for the gnoll currently in charge, and gnolls see leucrottas as a form of entertainment with a cruelty that surpasses their own.
 ==Messages==