Creature: Tehoténi

The tehoténi is not my own invention, though the background and mechanical information regarding it are vaguely original.

Tehoténi

The creature before you doesn't seem to be any different from any other cat you've seen... until you notice that its eyes belie an intelligence that no cat possesses. As you move on, the cat's form seems to blur and shake, then morph into an entirely new creature! The tyr'calas before you looks nothing like the cat you saw moments ago - until you notice its eyes, that same piercing, far-too-intelligent blue...

It is believed that this creature is the only native animal to the Vesuvan Archipelago, despite the islands having a seeming variety of fauna. Study has indicated, however, that despite appearances, all of these animals have nearly-identical genetics, implying that - despite apparent differences - they are all the same species.

In particular, vesuvan trainers tend to use a tehoténi as one of their creatures. In general, the tehoténi is highly sought-after as a trainer creature, given its ability to replicate the abilities and forms of other creatures, making it an incredibly versatile combatant.

Game Mechanics

Tehoténi
Tiny Shapechanger
Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (9 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor Class: 14 (+1 Dexterity, +2 size, +1 natural armor)
BAB/Grapple: +0 / -5
Attack: Slam +1 (1d4-1)
Full Attack: Slam +1 (1d4-1)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: ---
Special Qualities: Transform, Opposition, Powerful Build, Memorized Forms
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +3
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 14, Per 13
Skills: Bluff +6 (4), Initiative +5 (4), Sense Motive +6 (4), Spot +5 (4)
Feats: ---
A tehoténi cannot communicate, but it can understand simple commands.
Combat
A tehoténi in its native form has almost no combat or defensive ability; its only ability is its ability to transform into other creatures.
Opposition (Ex): Tehoténi have TO and CO equal to their HD, and are considered Blue-aligned.
Powerful Build (Ex): Whenever a tehoténi is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the tehoténi is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A tehoténi is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. His space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
Transform (Me): As a standard action, a tehoténi can shapechange into any creature of Tiny or Small size, so long as that creature is not of the construct, humanoid, monstrous humanoid, plant, or undead types, and has an Intelligence score of less than 3. The creature being transformed into must be within Close range (25 feet + 5 feet/2 HD), or else must be one of the tehoténi's memorized forms (see below). While transformed, the tehoténi loses its Powerful Build ability (unless the new form also has this ability) and retains its own hit points, but otherwise becomes an exact replica of the creature transformed into. The tehoténi cannot transform into a creature with higher HD than it has.
Memorized Forms: The tehoténi can commit a new form to memory as a free action. A tehoténi can have a number of memorized forms up to its Intelligence score; if memorizing a new form would put it over this amount, it must forget a previously-memorized form. Memorized forms do not improve with the tehoténi's advancement.