The black haired barbarian climbed around the crenellation at the top of the tower. He slipped noiselessly into the tower, where it was said the wizard's treasure was kept. Oiling the hinges to the door, and deftly picked the golden lock to the treasure room. As the door slid silently open, and the barbarian went to slip through. Only to be met by a large lizard, with cold black scales, sharp teeth and fetid breath. The Barbarian drew his blade, snarling to himself to be so foolish as to trust a wizard's defenses to be made of steel and stone. Things as valuable as the Gem of Triflorus must always have a guardian.
The Guard Beast is not a natural animal, nor is it a spirit or other divine creation. They are the creation of unscrupulous wizards and alchemists, taking a normal animal and making it into an enlarged guardian beast. There are formulae for making guardian beasts from great lizards (iguana, sometimes komodo dragons, or even chameleons), bears, and snakes (typically constrictors), which are all enhanced, enlarged, and empowered as part of the process. They become easily enraged, stronger, but not more willful or intelligent.
The process to create a Guard Beast involves mutilating the creature. The first step is an Alchemy or Death Art test (Ob Will of the creature to be made into a guard beast), to construct a poison to end the creature's free will. The second step is to modify the creature, which is a Taxidermy test (Ob Forte of the creature). This is dangerous due to the fact that the animal may not have a proper will, but it isn't docile. The final step is to actually place power within the creature, which is an Ob 6 Faith, Sorcery, or Alchemy test. Sealing this final steps leaves the creator with an empowered guard beast. It will not obey it's master, but it will not attack them. However, it will not roam, and has little need for food (it must eat what it needed in life though), and very little personality, begin only driven by base passions. The guard beast stays in a small area, and fights anything that comes near, eats what it can, and wanders little. The perfect creature to leave in a treasure vault, or the catacombs beneath a city, to expect the place to stay safe. Of course, many wizards have not properly fed their own creature and ended up eaten.
Most wizards and priests will declare the creation of a guard beast to be a horrible blasphemy due to the mutilation of an innocent animal to create something used for selfish means. However, many jealous wizards will not trust mercenaries or apprentices who are prone to stealing their treasures, rather than guarding them. Only by creating a mindless and deadly brute to the feel safe. Guard Beasts are also created to guard innocents who have been kept prisoners.
Scaly Skin: The Guard Beast has 3D armour to its entire body. This armour cannot be damaged.
Shaggy Fur: The bear guardian is covered in shaggy fur. This acts as a call-on for cold weather, as well as 1D of armour to the guard beast's body (this can be damaged).
Venomous Bite: The snake's bite deals a midi wound to anyone who takes at least a Light Wound from the snake's fangs.
Fanged: The Snake gains a bite WS - VA 1 Pow+0 Length: Shortest (keep in mind Massive Stature)
Teeth As Long As Yer Thumb: The lizard gains a bite, WS 2 VA 4 Pow+2 Length: Shortest
Large Claws: The bear has very long arms and claws, WS 2 VA 2 Pow+3 Length: Short
A Burning Wheel Monster Every Week