Cadejo

Drunkard-tracking magical spooky mutt. A fey.


Black Cadejo

Imagine a big, skinny, shaggy black dog. Its eyes are glowing like red candles and its feet are cloven. It smells like urine and sulfur. The black cadejo is evil.

Protective of the dead, mean spirited, elusive.

 
HD: 2 Armor: none
Hit it: normal Dodge it: normal
Move: fast  

It resists mundane weapons and spells (because it’s a fairy). It can hear, smell and hide very well, as well as see in the dark. Also, as a imaginary creature, willpower must be used for attack rolls against it instead of dexterity. Out of combat, it can cast illusion magic.

Attacks (1/round)

Bite. The cadejo makes a melee attack (1D6).

Spellcasting (1). Charm, Detect Invisibility.

Witch Bolt. The cadejo releases a jolt of electricity, making a ranged attack (1D6).


White Cadejo

Imagine a big, skinny, shaggy white dog. Its eyes are glowing like blue candles and its feet are cloven. It smells like urine and holy incense. The white cadejo is good.

Protective of the dead, altruistic guide, elusive.

 
HD: 2 Armor: none
Hit it: normal Dodge it: normal
Move: fast  

It resists mundane weapons and spells (because it’s a fairy), as well as fear. It can hear, and smell very well. Also, as a imaginary creature, willpower must be used for attack rolls against it instead of dexterity. Out of combat, it can cast protective magic.

Attacks (1/round)

Bite. The cadejo makes a melee attack (1D6).

Spellcasting (1). Cure Wound, Protection from Evil, Bless.

Witch Bolt. The cadejo releases a jolt of electricity, making a ranged attack (1D6).



Random Encounter
  1. Monster: 1 cadejo.
  2. Lair: A dirt den with flowers growing up in it that only blossom at night. There is a 25% chance that 1D4 drunk specters will come visit the cadejo at any night.
      OR
    Omen: Smell of urine and sulfur / Smell of incense and urine.
  3. Spoor: Trap! A hard to spot natural pit. Drunk people cannot see it.
  4. Tracks: Pungent urine smell.
  5. Trace: A wandering drunk who never got lost.
  6. Trace: A wandering drunk, lost and never to be seen again (except in the spoor).
D6 What the Monster Wants
  1. Guide wandering drunks to their death. (black cadejo) / Guide wandering drunks to their home. (white cadejo)
  2. Corral 3D20 drunken ghosts to a party.
  3. Guide travelers to the closest inn or tavern.
  4. Lead people away from a nearby passage to the land of the dead.
  5. Guard a path, only drunks may pass.
  6. Kill blissfully unaware people / Help aware people.
Salvaging the Body

Cadejo fur is always oily and shaggy, but is rumored to make the wearer appear dead to undead creatures.

By fermenting cadejo fur oil in a vat, a wizard can create a strong alcohol that will inspire them to create a new spell with the word drunk.

Cadejo Musk. One dose spread on the neck will make the wearer appear dead to other dead creatures.

D6 Symbolism

In local cultures it is a symbol of …

  1. Partying
  2. Bliss
  3. Alcohol
  4. Afterlife
  5. Getting lost
  6. Sacred


Credits

In Central American folklore, the cadejo is a goat-dog that protects or kills travelers, specifically drunkards. There’s a good, white-furred one, and an evil black-furred one. Richard J. Leblanc Jr’s adaptation in the Creature Compendium gives it weapon immunities and magical powers. What I did was give them standard fairy resistances and a magical attack instead of the spell lightning bolt.

Written on November 14, 2020