"Nature could not have spawned such an abomination... not without a little help..."
- Balfour, Royal Historian and Archivist of Mercia
| Other Names | - |
| Climate/Terrain | Mountains |
| Frequency | Very Rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle |
Any |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The chimera is a monstrous, fire-breathing hybrid creature composed of different animal parts. The creature appears as a large lion with a goat’s head protruding from its back and a tail that ends in a snake’s head. The chimera also has a pair of huge bat-like wings.
Despite it’s ability to fly, the creature tends to fight on the ground and will only take to the air as a means of escape. On the ground, the creature attacks with its front claws and the lion head bites. In addition, the goat head is able to rotate and breath fire in any direction. This fiery breath weapon is a stream of fire that has a range of 12 meters. The goat head can only use this breath attack thrice per day and then must spend a full day replenishing its internal reservoir. Finally, the snake head tail will lash out and strike at any opponent within range. A bit from the snake head delivers a neurotoxin that causes convulsions and paralysis. In addition to its fearsome combat ability, the beast is partially resistant to magic. Fortunately, it exhibits only animal intelligence.
Fortunately, this monstrosity is rare. The few encounters that have occurred have been in ruined castles in desolate regions, far from civilization. The beast seems to prefer altitude and so it is only encountered in the mountains.
There can be no doubt that this bizarre creature is the product of some deranged wizard’s experimentations. Whether this creature was the intended goal or whether it is the freak result of magic gone awry will never be known.
Little is known of the life cycle of the chimera. The beast has been seen consuming victims that have fallen in battle and it is assumed to be primarily a carnivore, like the lion which is resembles. It is assumed that chimera only encounter each other for breeding. Whether young are born live or as eggs is anyone’s guess.
Various scholars have put forth the theory that there is only ONE chimera, that it is immortal and that all sightings and encounters have been, in fact, with the same beast. This theory has been widely debated.
This website was last updated April 30, 2025. Copyright 1990-2025 David M. Roomes.