Shedu (3pp)

This creature is a winged bull with the face of a bearded man. It looks on you with a calm and knowing gaze.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm deserts
Organization solitary or herd (2-8)
Treasure standard

The shedu appears as a winged bull with a dark pelt and the head of a man. The humanoid face always sports a long, woven beard. Though shedu can communicate telepathically, they prefer to speak, knowing the deep, placid timber of their voice puts creatures at ease.

Before the rise of humanoid civilizations, anarchy ruled among the world’s sentient creatures. The gods created the first shedu to bring the rule of law to all humanoids. Having fulfilled their original purpose, shedu now seek out and destroy all evil creatures. They still consider themselves the arbiters of law, order and good, and take it is as their duty to ensure such principles are upheld, either through battling agents of chaos or acting as advisors to kings. The reputation of the shedu for fairness is such that creatures with disputes will ask a shedu to arbitrate if one is nearby.

In combat, a shedu attacks with hooves, preferring to use flyby attack and ethereal jaunt to keep itself out of danger until it knows the strength of opponents. A greater shedu stays at range as long as possible and bombards foes with spells.

Most shedu weigh about 800 pounds.

Shedu lair in forgotten or ruined temples dedicated to gods of good and law. Though they prefer deserts, shedu are found in any desolate natural environment, defending the borders of organized societies against the encroachment of chaos.