#yucatan

Detail of “Chupacabra” © Dane Cozens. Accessed at their ArtStation page here

[The balizloob is another Maya monster, but unlike the xtabay is very obscure in English. I could find references to it in the Spanish book Monstros Mexicanos (thanks to @abominationimperatrix​ for the translation!), and a French master’s thesis that refers to that book. Their physical description is basically nonexistent, but since they’re said to live in caves, be highly social and good parents, I knew I wanted to make them something like a flightless vampire bat. I had the darnedest time finding an image I liked (as opposed to something more like the Future Predator from Primeval), until I remembered that some people had interpreted the chubacabra with a similar design.]

Balizloob
CR 4 LE Magical Beast
This slim creature looks something like a flightless bat with a long tail. It has dark fur on the upper side of its body, and pale skin on the underside. Although its long arms bear sharp claws, more fearsome are its scissor-like, forward facing teeth.

Balizloobs are mammalian carnivores that live in caves, particularly in humid tropical environments. They are ambush hunters with keen senses, using a combination of echolocation, vibrations and scent to track down even hidden prey. Although a balizloob would be dangerous enough on its own, they are cooperative pack hunters, and their favorite prey is human beings.

A balizloob is smarter than an animal—smart enough to know that frequent predation on human settlements result in their colonies being hunted down and destroyed. So they limit their attacks to travelers, drunkards, the homeless, and other people on the outskirts of society who will attract little attention if they disappear. Mothers sometimes use balizloobs as bogeys to encourage children to close their windows, lock their doors and keep up minor repairs around the household, as these monsters are adept at getting into buildings and hiding in very tight spaces. The bite of a balizloob creates deep, bleeding wounds, and the monsters use teamwork to surround and overwhelm their prey.

Despite their savagery towards other species, balizloobs are social and nurturing among themselves. The young are raised communally, with some members of the colony staying behind to guard them while others go off to hunt, and both babies and babysitters provisioned with meat and blood vomited up by the hunters. They are sensitive to sunlight, so typically sleep deep in their caves by day and go abroad to hunt by night. Balizloobs do not go out of their way to collect treasure, but the bodies of anyone who stumbles into one of their caves are left where they lie, and may have useful items remaining on them.

Balizloob             CR 4
XP 1,200
LE Small magical beast
Init+3;Sensesblindsense 60 ft.,darkvision 60 ft., Perception +9, scent
Defense
AC16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural)
hp37 (5d10+10)
Fort+6,Ref+7,Will+2
Weaknesslight blindness
Offense
Speed30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee2 claws +9 (1d4), bite +9 (1d6 plus bleed)
Special Attacks bleed (1d6), swarmfighting
Statistics
Str11,Dex17,Con15,Int4,Wis12,Cha8
Base Atk +5;CMB+4;CMD17
FeatsBlind-fight, Improved Initiative, Precise Strike (B), Weapon Finesse
SkillsAcrobatics +11,Climb +12, Escape Artist +8, Perception +9, Stealth +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Escape Artist, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth
LanguagesUndercommon
SQcompression,fast stealth
Ecology
Environmentunderground and urban
Organizationsolitary, pair, pack (3-12) or colony (13-40 plus 50% noncombatants)
Treasureincidental
Special Abilities
Fast Stealth (Ex) A balizloob can move its full speed while making a Stealth check without penalty.
Swarmfighting (Ex) Two balizloob may share the same square without penalty. If they both attack the same creature, they are treated as flanking that opponent.