This hyena is covered in shaggy, tan-colored fur with black and brown stripes.
Hyena CR 1
XP 400
N Medium animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +7
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d6+3 plus trip)
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 15 (19 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +6 (+10 in tall grass); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in tall grass
Ecology
Environment warm plains
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–12)
Treasure none
Hyenas are pack hunters infamous for their cunning and their unnerving, laughter-like vocalizations. They are largely scavengers, but aren't above supplementing their diet of carrion with fresh prey.
Hyenas tend to hunt alone, but when hunting as a pack they typically send one or two members against a foe's front while the rest of the pack circles and attacks from behind.
Many of the savage humanoid races, particularly gnolls, use hyenas as guard dogs. Such hyenas typically wear leather barding and are trained from birth to be vicious and savage—many such creatures are advanced hyenas.
Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 50 ft.; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4 plus trip); Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.
4th-Level Advancement: Size Medium; Attack bite (1d6 plus trip); Ability Scores Str +4, Dex –2, Con +2.
This large hyena has a thick head, rheumy red eyes, and a mouth filled with sharp, powerful teeth.
Dire Hyena (Hyaenodon) CR 3
XP 800
N Large animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
Defense
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)
hp 26 (4d8+8)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2
Offense
Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +6 (2d6+6 plus trip)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Statistics
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +8; CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +7 (+11 in tall grass or heavy undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in tall grass
Ecology
Environment warm plains
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3–8)
Treasure incidental
Dire hyenas (known to many as hyaenodons) are more fearsome than their smaller cousins. While hyaenodons won't turn down carrion as a handy meal, they much prefer to hunt for prey. A pack of dire hyenas rarely stops moving and hunting for anything other than sleep, mating, or food. Hyaenodons are 6 feet tall at the shoulder and often over 12 feet long. They weigh 900 pounds.
Gnolls have been known to train hyaenodons to serve in their lairs as guardians, or more commonly as fearsome mounts.