Baku

A baku looks like a strange elephant with a lizard's tail. It has an elephantine head, complete with trunk, but its trunk is rarely longer than 4 feet. Two upward thrusting tusks jut out from the creature's lower jaws, curving slightly. Its stout forelegs have a rhino-tough hide. The front feet are like an elephant's, but the rear feet have leonine pads equipped with claws. Dragon-like scales cover a baku's back and thick tail. On male baku, the scales continue over the back of the head. The rest of the hide is rhino-tough.

Despite its size and bulk, a baku can move rapidly, attacking with a goring butt and two foreleg stomps. A baku's trunk can hold simple devices such as weapons or wands, so a baku of wealth or status may attack with a magical weapon or device. Baku can use psionics to become invisible at will.

A baku's trumpeting roar affects creatures of certain alignments. Neutral good baku affect only evil creatures, dark (evil) baku affect good creatures, and holy baku can affect either good and/or evil creatures at their discretion. Any vulnerable creature close to the creature suffers damage, and those weak of will flee in panic.

All baku come from the Outlands. They are seldom seen in desolate settings, and prefer to move invisibly among mankind. Most baku are creatures of good will. They secretly dwell among humankind to serve its interests. Good baku favor societies in semitropical forests. Neutral good baku are usually timid, peace-loving creatures, but they resolutely battle evil and malicious monsters.

However, a small number of baku are of evil alignment. These baku, called "The Dark Ones" by their brethren, also move amongst humankind. However, they attempt to thwart the plans of their good brothers as well as cause general mayhem and suffering wherever they go.

A few rare baku are true neutral. Other baku know them as "Great Ones" or "Holy Ones." Although no discernible abilities set them apart from their brethren, other baku reverently obey them.

Note: Baku originally appeared in this form in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.