Temple Dog

Medium celestial, any good

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 97 (15d8 + 30)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	14 (+2)	15 (+2)	8 (-1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws Con +5, Wis +5, Cha +3
Skills Perception +5
Damage Resistances radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages understands Celestial and Common but can’t speak
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

SPECIAL TRAITS

• Magic Resistance. The temple dog has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Protector’s Instincts. The temple dog has advantage on initiative rolls while in its temple or within 30 feet of a priest of its deity.
• Radiant Jaws. The temple dog’s Bite attacks are magical. When it hits with a Bite attack, the Bite deals an extra 2d6 radiant damage (included in the attack).
• Rushing Bite. If the temple dog moves at least 15 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a Bite attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed up to 10 feet away from the temple dog. If the target is pushed, the temple dog can move up to 10 feet straight toward the target without provoking opportunity attacks.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The temple dog makes two Bite attacks. If both attacks hit a Medium or smaller target, the temple dog sinks in its teeth, shaking its head violently, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or take 9 (2d8) slashing damage and be grappled (escape DC 15). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and temple dog can’t Bite another target.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage.

ABOUT

Looking like a mix between a large dog and a lion, the creature glares at everyone who passes the threshold of the temple it guards. A temple dog is an imposing guardian used by various deities to protect their temples. They are fiercely loyal and territorial. Often depicted in temple statuary, the creature has a largely canine body, soft but short hair, a thick hairy tail, and a mane like a lion’s around a dog’s face with a short snout.

Divine Colors. Coloration and other features of the temple dog vary to match the deity who created it, and sometimes a temple dog’s coloration is quite fanciful. Greenish-bronze temple dogs are known, as are those the color of cinnabar or lapis. Even coats resembling fired ceramic of an orange hue have been seen guarding some temples. These unusual casts make it easy for a temple dog to be mistaken for statuary.

Travel with Priests. As a temple protector, it rarely leaves the grounds of the temple to which it has been attached, but temple dogs do accompany priests or allies of the temple during travel. The temple dog cannot speak, but it understands the words and needs of those it accompanies. Temple dogs are notorious for biting their prey, then shaking the victim senseless in their massive jaws.