Mercurial Lion

Mercurial Lion
By Tavaer

Size: 4-5 feet long
Weight: 150-200 lbs

Strength: Above Average
Agility: Average
Health: Poor
Intelligence: Very Poor
Willpower: Poor

Skills: Assorted Projectile Fire Magic, Exceptional Balance, Perfect Memory.

“...The night of the raid, Liev went ahead of us, wanted the gold for himself! I got there only to meet those two leery carved lion statues from before sitting outside the temple; too heavy to steal of course... and in the central room there was another lion statue, one that wasn't there when we scouted the ruins...and in it's jaws were Liev's tools!” 

Mercurial lions are magical sentries of stone created by the ancient royal wizards of a long forgotten imperial court in a land lost to demons. While they always watch over revered temples sites & hallowed temples, they are not to be confused for the similar celestial creature. While resembling large cats, they have cracked stone skin, fiery eyes and regal manes of jade and similar decorative materials, with veins of mercury throughout. They are always made and sold in pairs. In order to preserve the alchemy that animates them, each lion actively avoids falling into bodies of water or lava.

While on guard, they do not patrol, but instead rest like grounded gargoyles, typically near the entrance, often giving some sort of visual clue about whether or not the structure is open to the public, such as bared fangs or closed eyes. They are much slower than real lions but just as agile, building into a devastating charge capable of shattering stone, although they will not risk harm to the structures they guard, returning stolen relics when found. Mercurial Lions move noticeably slower over icy and wet terrains, and will avoid mud altogether. They will avoid being submerged in water at all costs.

They cannot repair themselves, however they can create new guardians by turning the flesh of enemies to stone with a petrifying breath at close range, and reshaping solid victims into new lions of stone, animating them and other stone creatures with spray of soot and mercury from within. Lions created through these means have no manes or other ornamentation.

In combat, their range is not to be underestimated, employing multiple types of fire against enemies: A basic fireball that will explode on contact with enemies and burn at the flesh, a blue fireball which burns at the magical energies of it's target and saps the ability to focus, and a black fireball that destroys healing ability with temporary necrosis. At close range they may just breath a gout of fire or a blinding billow of ash and soot.

They have a strong resistance to magic, but can be crushed by appropriate force, and a skilled warrior user may be able to turn their fireballs against them.

Oddly enough they are startled by loud noise and bright lights when outside of the places they secure. It is possible for a thief to deter them temporarily with fireworks or flashing lights temporarily, however they will renew the chase until destroyed.