Coyerd
“Fordyce’s Monster” © Scots Magazine, accessed at ShukerNature here
[Commissioned by @wannabedemonlord. Because the Loch Ness Monster is a sociological phenomenon more than it is a biological phenomenon, “outlier” sightings occur--those that do not fit the typical plesiosaur-like model favored by print media. Take for example the Fordyce sighting. As pointed out by the Paranormal World Wiki, this beast has more in common with the Magalia snakehound than the typical Nessie.]
Coyerd CR 4 N Magical Beast This humpbacked hairy quadruped has a long neck, on which sits a very small head. Its legs end in bird-like claws.
Coyerds are sometimes referred to as “cameleels” due to their hybrid appearance, although in truth they are related to neither species. Instead, they are highly modified, magical amphibians, something more like a salamander. What appears as rangy hair that grows from their bodies is actually algae and lichen, which coats them and provides them with camouflage. Coyerds are mid-tier predators of cold freshwater systems, feeding on fish, amphibians and birds and being preyed on themselves by magical predators such as aughiskies and dobhar-chu. They can sense electrical fields, making them excellent at rooting out buried bottom dwellers or foraging in murky waters.
A coyerd does not typically view man-sized creatures as prey, but will fight if it feels threatened or during a time of increased stress, such as heat waves or mating season. Their teeth and claws are sharp, and they secrete a slime from their mouths that causes muscle weakness and fatigue. Although this is primarily carried through their bites, they can vomit this secretion in waves when under duress—this is usually a prelude to fleeing from a losing encounter.
A coyerd’s trail cannot be followed through any means except for divination magic—whether this ability developed on its own or was engineered by some ancient meddlers is unknown. This ability makes them valuable to smugglers and bandits as mounts or pack animals, especially in the cool highlands and lochs in which they are found. Coyerds make for difficult and ornery livestock, however, and coyerd trainers would be wise to keep antitoxin and universal solvent on hand. A coyerd is as comfortable on land as in the water, but it requires cold water to lay its eggs. Coyerd tadpoles look much like ordinary tadpoles, although they are born the size of a cat and grow rapidly from that point.
A coyerd stands about five feet at the shoulder, but its hump can rise a foot higher than that.
