[One
of the few Japanese folkloric creatures that can be tied directly to a
Chinese antecedent, these are known as Bai Ze in China. They are
relatively little changed from their country of origin. On a mechanics
note, I slotted these guys at 18 HD, CR 15 explicitly to make them
attractive options for the greater planar ally spell.]
Hakutaku Although this creature has a body like an ox, the wisdom on its face
reflects that it is no mere beast. A flowing mane runs along its back
and down its long thin tail. A third eye sits on its forehead, and three
more eyes sit on each flank under a pair of curving horns.
Hakutaku are great celestial beasts who are knowledgeable in all things.
Many spells designed to commune with goodly spirits or extraplanar
entities pass through hakutaku, allowing these sage entities to survey
the mortal world constantly. Although they are most comfortable with
spreading wisdom and gathering information, they are also valiant
soldiers against the forces of evil, answering the call to battle
undead, fiends and other dark powers without hesitation.
Mortal sages have dozens of conjectures about their origins, listing
them as composite spirits of entire colleges or as the ascended souls of
goodly beasts like shedu and lammasu or the fabric of Heaven itself
pulled into a physical form. Hakutaku are silent on such matters, and
questions about their origins are among the few that hakutaku will not
answer.
Shores of Swords 