Dungeons & Dragons/Monsters/Aurumvorax

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the aurumvorax, or "golden gorger," is a magical beast.

Description
An aurumvorax resembles an eight-legged mustelid: ferocious and tenacious as a badger, slinky like a ferret, but about 3 feet long. It has slightly leonine features, and its golden-brown fur is as strong as field (or plate) armor. Despite the relatively small size, the aurumvorax is physically powerful.

The aurumvorax is a solitary creature with similar habits to many real-life woodland animals. Aurumvoraxes are neutral in alignment and cannot speak.

Ecology
The aurumvorax seems to have a deep affection for precious ores and minerals, which it consumes to supplement its mainly carnivorous diet. It often lairs near places where such things can be found. Gold seems to be its preferred inorganic dish. Many say that the aurumvorax's disproportionate strength is due to eating these things. The aurumvorax is widely hunted for its fur, which can be used to make garments of great strength and beauty.

The aurumvorax makes its home in alpine forests. Aurumvoraxes often burrow into solid rock to make their lairs.

Publication history
The aurumvorax appeared in the following publications:
 * Created by Gary Gygax and first appeared in 1980's Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.
 * The original Monster Manual II (1983).
 * Further developed in Dragon #132 (April 1988).
 * The second edition Monstrous Manual (1993).
 * The third edition in Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007).
 * The Tome of Horrors (2002) from Necromancer Games.