| Baku | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Naming | |||
| Original | 獏 or 貘 | ||
| Romanization | Baku | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Elephantine | ||
| Average height | > 9' at shoulder | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sapience | Non-sapient | ||
| Aggressivity | Default: Harmless Against Evil: Extreme | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Upper Outer Planes of Neutral | ||
| Habitat | Semitropical Forests, Communities of Man | ||
| Diet | Dreams (presumed) | ||
| Locomotion | Quadrupedal | ||
| Related species | Baku, Drowzee, Hypno | ||
| Status | Least Concern | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Dungeons & Dragons | ||
| Created by | Gary Gygax | ||
Baku are chimeric, elephantine dream-eaters indigenous to the Upper Outer Planes of Neutral, but often found on the Prime Material Plane to feed upon the horrors that plague mankind.
Monster Manual descriptions
2nd Edition
The elephant-like baku are seldom seen in the wild, for most move invisibly through the communities of man. On the Prime Material Plane, Baku prefer dwelling in semitropical forests, where groups of 2-5 will sometimes be encountered. Baku hate evil and abandon their usual timid and peace-loving nature to combat malicious monsters. In this aspect, they secretly dwell amongst humankind and serve its interests. Their true home is the Upper Outer Planes of Neutral. Despite size and bulk, a baku can move rapidly. Attack is by means of a goring butt and two stomping attacks with the forelegs, the latter possible only against opponents of man-size *or under 6 feet in height if fourlegged). A baku can hold simple devices such as weapons or wands in its short, prehensile trunk, so a baku will often have some magic weapon or device when attacking.
Baku have the power to become invisible at will and to remain thus until some action breaks the dweomer. Baku can become ethereal and travel in this mode. They can also travel astrally. They have the following psionic powers: 12-level animal telepathy, 6th-level body control, body equilibrium, 12-level fighter cell adjustment, 12-level detection of good or evil, 12th level reduction, and shape alteration.
The trumpeting roar of a baku causes all Evil creatures within a 4" radius to take 1-8 points of damage and make a saving throw vs. paralyzation or flee in panic as if affected by a fear spell from a 12th-level magic-user. Baku can roar like this only once every 4 melee rounds.
Baku have elephant-like heads with a trunk of only 4 feet or so in length. A pair of upwards thrusting tusks jut from the lower jaw, curving slightly backwards. The forelegs are stout and rhino-like, while the rear legs are rather leonine. The body is draconian, terminating in a shortish tail. The back is scaled with horny plates.
