This massive quadruped has a thick, wrinkled hide, curving horns, and shaggy hair that frames its leonine face.

Gorthek

CR 7

XP 3,200

N Large animal

Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +12

Defense

AC 18, touch 8, flat-footed 18 (–1 Dex, +10 natural, –1 size)

hp 85 (9d8+45)

Fort +13, Ref +5, Will +3

DR 5/—

Offense

Speed 40 ft.

Melee gore 16 (2d616)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks powerful charge (gore, 4d6+22), trample (2d6+16, DC 25)

Statistics

Str 32, Dex 9, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 5

Base Atk 6; CMB +18 (20 bull rush or sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. bull rush or sunder, 31 vs. trip)

Feats Awesome Blow, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Power Attack

Skills Perception +12

Ecology

Environment temperate hills and plains

Organization solitary, pair, or herd (3–12)

Treasure none

The gorthek is, without a doubt, one of the crankiest beasts found roaming in the wilderness. Appearing as a strange combination of primeval bison and ornery rhinoceros, but with a leonine head crowned with ramlike horns, a gorthek is both immensely powerful and preternaturally hard to injure. Its thick, battering-ram head and powerful body make it a fearsome opponent, particularly when it’s riled up and in full charge.

Gortheks tend to travel in small herds, grazing across remote temperate grasslands or sparsely wooded hills. When a gorthek perceives a threat—which to the gorthek includes just about everything, often even other gortheks—it launches itself into a full charge, intent on sending the enemy flying.

Orc tribes have made a practice of raising the beasts from infancy to serve as living siege engines during warfare. Future gorthek riders bond with the creatures from a very young age, and if possible use gorthek masks to make that bond stronger. When riding into battle, one orc sits astride the gorthek in a specially crafted saddle secured behind its massive horns and guides the beast using spiked reins.

An adult male gorthek stands about 7 feet high at the shoulder and weighs around 9,000 pounds.