Tatooine Howler

Creature Feature

By Steve Kenson and Owen Stephens

The Tatooine howler is a predator that has adapted to the harsh desert environments of that world. The large, shaggy creature has a bulky build and curling horns. If seen briefly from afar, a howler might be mistaken for a bantha. They're dangerous and unpredictable animals, but, thankfully, very rare. In fact, most people consider them to be legends or rumors designed to keep the curious away from secret smuggler bases in the deep desert.

Howlers are extremely intelligent carnivores. When one is on the hunt, it makes loud howling noises to scare its prey, herding the quarry toward a rock cul-de-sac or similar killing ground. The howler dries portions of each kill in the hot air and buries them in the sand. If hunting turns lean, the howler can return to its secret cache of food, but otherwise it will ignore the preserved flesh in favor of fresh meat. If a desert traveler were to find such a buried collection of food, it would be a sure sign that a howler was nearby.

The creatures are covered in dirty yellow fur, allowing them to blend in with their surroundings. This camouflage gives them a +2 bonus on Hide checks in sandy environments. Only their teeth, claws, and horns are likely to stick out from their surroundings, but that's rarely enough to blow their cover (especially during sandstorms).

Tatooine howlers make great creatures for encounters using the
Secrets of Tatooine campaign pack. Check it out!