Frightful Fridays! Fireworks Golem

Hello and welcome to the final 2017 Frightful Fridays! I'm going out with a bang with the fireworks golem, which is made of fireworks and shoots fireworks. You might say it has a certain shtick.

I hope you enjoy the fireworks golem, and your 2018 starts off great! Thanks for reading.

I also invite you to check out my Patreon to help support the creation of these monsters.

Boom!

This collection of fireworks is shaped into a vaguely humanoid form. Sparks shoot randomly from the creature’s body, and a stray firework shoots from the mass at random intervals.

Fireworks Golem      CR 4

XP 1,200

N Medium construct

Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural)

hp 47 (5d10+20)

Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +1

DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traits, fire, magic

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee 2 slams +8 (1d6+3 plus 1d4 fire and bright light/loud bang)

Ranged firework +7 (1d4+3 plus 1d4 fire and bright light/loud bang)

Special Attacks fireworks explosion

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +5)

   At will—spark[APG] (DC 10)

   3/day—snapdragon fireworks[UM] (DC 11)

   1/day—pyrotechnics (fireworks effect only, DC 12)

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 11

Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 21

Feats Dodge[B]

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary or display (2–6)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Bright Light/Loud Bang (Ex) When a fireworks golem hits an opponent with its slam or firework attack, the foe must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save or become blind and deaf for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based and Includes a +2 racial bonus.

Firework (Ex) A fireworks golem’s firework attack has a range of 60 feet with no range increment.

Fireworks Explosion (Ex) If a fireworks golem is subject to at least 10 points of fire damage or if it is destroyed, it sets off dozens of fireworks. All creatures within a 20-foot burst take 2d4 points of bludgeoning damage and 2d4 points of fire damage; a DC 14 Reflex save halves the damage. On a failed Reflex save, a creature is blind and deaf for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based and Includes a +2 racial bonus.

A fireworks golem that is still alive after its fireworks explosion ability is triggered cannot use its spell-like abilities and its attacks don’t deal fire damage or inflict its bright light/loud bang ability. This condition persists for 1d4+1 rounds.

Immunity to Magic (Ex) A fireworks golem is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance, with the exception of spells and spell-like abilities that have the cold descriptor, which affect it normally. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.

·       A magical attack that deals cold damage or produces water in the fireworks golem’s space slows it (as the slow spell) for 2d4 rounds, with no saving throw.

·       A magical attack that deals electricity damage breaks any slow effect on the golem and heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as temporary hit points. A fireworks golem gets no saving throw against electricity effects.

Fireworks golems are automatons formed from fireworks and configured to look like a humanoid. Oftentimes, sparklers and other long-lasting fireworks form its eyes and its mouth. They shoot fireworks from their mass to defend themselves and have a limited suite of spell-like abilities based on their modestly explosive properties. Most of these golems are programmed to begin combat by using snapdragon fireworks and exhausting the fireworks from that spell-like ability while making single ranged or melee attacks. On occasion, wizards controlling fireworks golems will subject them to fireball (from a safe distance) to create a fantastic display.

A fireworks golem stands 6 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds.

Construction

A fireworks golem’s body must be constructed using fireworks worth 400 gp.

Fireworks Golem

CL 11th; Price 14,400

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Construct, geas/quest, major creation, pyrotechnics, snapdragon fireworks, spark, creator must be caster level 11th; Skill Craft (alchemy) DC 15; Cost 7,400 gp

Frightful Fridays! Curious Critters

Howdy, and welcome back for another Frightful Fridays! I have moved on from plants to something else. This week's pair of creatures has no unifying theme (OK, they're both Small), but they are weird. First is the dropsplacer bear, a fun take on the drop bear. Next is the hydroseal, an adorable animal that shoots water.

I hope you enjoy both of today's offerings, and I'll see you next week with another monster. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a happy holiday week!

This koala bear has razor-sharp teeth and several tentacles sprouting from its back.

Dropsplacer Bear      CR 5

XP 1,600

CN Small aberration

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +11

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural, +1 size)

hp 59 (7d8+28)

Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +8

Defensive Abilities dropsplacement; Immunities bludgeoning damage, falling damage

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; spider climb

Melee bite +10 (1d8+1), 2 tentacles +8 (1d6 plus grab), 2 tentacles +8 (1d4)

Special Attacks constrict (1d6+1), drop charge, you're with me

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th; concentration +9)

   Constant—spider climb

   5/day—dimension door

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 9, Wis 16, Cha 14

Base Atk +5; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 20 (24 vs. trip)

Feats Dimensional Agility[UC], Dimensional Assault[UC], Dodge, Improved Initiative, Multiattack[B], Weapon Finesse[B]

Skills Acrobatics +11, Climb +13, Escape Artist +11, Perception +11, Stealth +18

Languages Aklo, Common

ECOLOGY

Environment any forest or underground

Organization solitary

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Drop Charge (Ex) When dropping on opponents, a dropsplacer bear can effectively charge (gaining a +2 on attack rolls and taking a–2 penalty to AC). It can make a full attack when it lands.

Dropsplacement (Su) When dropping from a height, a dropsplacer bear gains total concealment (50% miss chance). Additionally, it gains concealment (20% miss chance) for 1 round after it uses its dimension door spell-like ability.

You're with Me (Su) If a dropsplacer bear has an opponent grappled, it can force that opponent to travel with it when it uses its dimension door spell-like ability. The grappled foe can attempt a DC 15 Will save to negate this ability. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Dropsplacer bears are cruel creatures that delight in surprising prey that it falls upon and subsequently mauls. When they can’t situate themselves to effectively descend upon their opponents, they use their innate teleportation ability to land on their foes from a distance and attack. They also take advantage of this teleportation to grab victims and abscond with them to high locations, where they can attack their victims without interruption or just drop them from their perches. Dropsplacer bears in underground areas especially enjoy dropping their victims, since they can cling to horizontal surfaces with the sticky pads on their paws, while their prey usually cannot.

Dropsplacer bears rarely work with other creatures, and often end temporary alliances by turning on their former allies. They even despise other dropsplacer bears, but they get around the necessity of meeting with other dropsplacer bears for mating purposes by budding, usually in a victim’s fresh corpse.

A typical dropsplacer bear stands 3 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds.

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So cute!

Water dribbles from this white-furred seal’s mouth. It observes its surrounding with immense curiosity.

Hydroseal      CR 3

XP 800

N Small animal

Init +6; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)

hp 30 (4d8+12)

Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2

Defensive Abilities oily blubber; Resist cold 5

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., swim 60 ft.

Melee bite +5 (1d6+1)

Ranged hydraulic burst +6 (2d6+1)

Special Attacks hydraulic burst

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11

Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 15 (19 vs. trip)

Feats Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills Escape Artist +10, Perception +10, Swim +13; Racial Modifiers +8 Escape Artist

ECOLOGY

Environment cold and temperate coastlines

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

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Hydraulic Burst (Ex) If a hydroseal strikes an opponent with its hydraulic burst, it gains a free bull rush or trip attempt against that foe; the seal gains a +4 racial bonus for the chosen combat maneuver. A hydroseal’s hydraulic burst has a range of 30 feet with no range increment. It does not incur attacks of opportunity when it uses this attack.

A hydroseal can attack the same opponent it bites with its hydraulic blast.

Oily Blubber (Ex) A hydroseal has extraordinarily oily blubber, granting it a +8 racial bonus to Escape Artist checks. Additionally, it has a 10% chance to negate critical hits or precision damage.

Hydroseals resemble ordinary seals, and, at first glance, there is very little to distinguish them from ordinary seals. They are a little more precocious, though, and often indulge their curiosity, heedless of any danger they might expose themselves to. When something threatens them, they reveal their primary means of fighting back, as they unleash a powerful blast of water from a bladder they use to store water as they swim. The water bludgeons the seals’ targets and allows them to repulse or knock down their targets. Hydroseals use this water jet to propel themselves in water to escape from more powerful predators. They also benefit from an extremely slick oil that permits them to slip out of a creature’s jaws or to turn aside potentially devastating strikes.

Hydroseals adopt other seals into their pods for protection but turn out non-hydroseals during lean times when food becomes scarce. Because of the extraordinary speeds at which they can shoot through water, they often travel from location to location to find the best sources of food. Like their cousins, hydroseals are carnivorous and prefer fish.

A typical hydroseal measures 3–1/2 feet in length and weighs 125 pounds.

Hydroseal Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 10 ft., swim 60 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), hydraulic burst (1d6); Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11; SQ low-light vision, oily blubber.

4th-Level Advancement: Attack bite (1d6), hydraulic burst (2d6); Ability Scores Str +2, Con +2; Special Attacks hydraulic burst (bull rush or trip attempt on successful hit).

Frightful Fridays! Malevolent Plants

Hello, and welcome to another Frightful Fridays! This week presents a bounty of two terrible plants, the detonating bramble and the rotshroom. The detonating bramble shoots thorns into its victims and the thorns explode into brambles while inside their victims. Fun! The rotshroom is more actively evil and likes to instantly decay its victims, which rise as zombies when they die. Also fun!

I hope you enjoy both of these monsters. I'll see you next week with another monster!

It's actually just misunderstood

This gnarled and twisted collection of plant matter sports long, sharp thorns that look like they could break away easily.

Detonating Bramble      CR 9

XP 6,400

N Small plant

Init +9; Senses low-light vision; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 17 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 natural, +1 size)

hp 119 (14d8+56); verdant healing

Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +5

Defensive Abilities thorn defense; DR 10/cold iron and slashing; Immune electricity, plant traits

Weaknesses kindling

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee 4 thorns +16 (1d6+4 plus bleed)

Ranged 2 thorns +17 (1d6+4 plus bleed)

Special Attacks broken thorn, detonating thorn

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 21, Con 18, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 7

Base Atk +10; CMB +13; CMD 29 (can't be tripped)

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus (thorn)

Skills Climb +12, Perception +14, Stealth +16 (+24 in undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in undergrowth

ECOLOGY

Environment any forest

Organization solitary or cluster (2–7)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Broken Thorn (Ex) A detonating bramble must break off a thorn when it uses it as a ranged weapon, and may break off a thorn when it makes a successful melee attack with a thorn. This deals 1d4 points of damage to detonating bramble. On a successful hit with a thorn, the bramble gains a free combat maneuver check with a +4 racial bonus to impale the thorn in the foe it struck. Removing one thorn requires a DC 20 Heal check made as a full-round action. For every 5 by which the check is exceeded, one additional thorn can be removed. On a failed check, a thorn is removed, but the process deals 1d6+2 points of damage to the victim.

A thrown thorn has a 10-foot range increment.

Detonating Thorn (Ex) A broken thorn explodes into an inert bramble after 1d4 rounds. This deals 6d6 points of piercing damage to the victim (DC 21 Fortitude halves). The victim is entangled and nauseated until the bramble is removed, requiring a DC 21 Heal check made as a full-round action. On a failed check, the bramble remains, and the victim takes 2d6 points of damage. The DCs are Constitution-based.

Kindling (Ex) Upon taking fire damage, a detonating bramble gains vulnerability to fire. If it fails its Reflex save against an attack that requires a save and deals fire damage, it catches fire, taking 1d6 points of fire damage each round, but its melee attacks add 1d6 points of fire damage. It can attempt a Reflex save (at the same DC as the original Reflex save) as a full-round action to put itself out; the bramble has a +4 racial bonus on this save.

Thorn Defense (Ex) Any creature that strikes a detonating bramble with a non-reach melee weapon, unarmed strike, or natural weapon takes 1d6+2 points of piercing damage from the bramble’s thorns. The bramble can use its broken thorn ability to lodge a thorn into its opponent.

Verdant Healing (Ex) While in undergrowth, a detonating bramble gains fast healing 2.

Created by fey druids, detonating brambles are a blight on living, fleshy creatures making the mistake of entering their lairs. While possessing more of an instinctual level of intelligence, the brambles are patient enough to wait for their victims to draw close enough for them to attack from a position of advantage within the undergrowth where they hide. Detonating brambles gather up loose plant material from undergrowth, which allows them to heal from the damage they inflict upon themselves to leave thorn within their victims. These thorns become terrible time bombs that burst into a full-grown bramble while devastating their hosts. These new brambles are inert, initially, but become new detonating brambles if left to grow in the gory remains of their victims.

Evil druids cultivate detonating brambles as guardians, but they must use magic to control the brambles, since the creatures are too dim to recognize them as allies.

A typical detonating bramble has a 4-foot radius and weighs 20 pounds.

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This pale mushroom has a seam down its stalk giving it a pair of legs. It oozes a tarry substance from its cap, and a pungent odor emanates from the tar.

Rotshroom      CR 7

XP 3,200

NE Small plant

Init +3; Senses deathwatch, low-light vision; Perception +9

Aura stench (20 ft., DC 18, 2d4 rounds)

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +6 natural, +1 size)

hp 85 (10d8+40)

Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +5

DR 5/good; Immune cold, death effects, disease, negative energy, plant traits

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.

Melee 2 tentacles +12 (1d6–1 plus spores)

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with tentacles)

Special Attacks create spawn, spore cloud, spores

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +13)

   Constant—deathwatch

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 6, Wis 15, Cha 17

Base Atk +7; CMB +5; CMD 18

Feats Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Heal), Toughness, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (tentacle)

Skills Heal +10, Perception +9, Stealth +11

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate or warm land or underground

Organization solitary or corpse grove (2–12)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Create Spawn (Ex) A living creature that dies as a result of a rotshroom’s spores rises as a free-willed fast zombie with the rotshoom’s rot spores special attack 1d4 rounds later.

Spore Cloud (Ex) Once every 1d6 rounds, a rotshroom can release a 20-foot-radius cloud of spores. All creatures caught within the cloud are subject to the rotshroom’s spores and must attempt a DC 18 Fortitude save. On a failure, the victim becomes sickened for 1d4 rounds; if it is already sickened as a result of a previous use of the rotshroom’s spore cloud or its stench, the victim instead becomes nauseated for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Spores (Ex) Any creature that takes damage from a rotshroom’s tentacle attack or is caught in the rotshroom’s spore cloud becomes exposed to its spores. These spores grow rapidly in living creatures. This affliction is a disease effect, but it is poison-like in its speed and duration.

Rot Spores: Disease—injury or ingested; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 8 rounds; effect 1d4 Con damage and 2d4 bleed, and the victim must succeed on an additional Fortitude save or 1 point of Con damage becomes 1 point of Con drain instead; cure 2 consecutive saves.

Rotshrooms thrive in areas where dead bodies have been left to decay. They accelerate rot, so they can more readily feed on it. Their predilection for open grave sites and other places where large numbers of creatures died gives them a kind of necromantic ability, and living creatures that succumb to the rot they inflict come back as shambling undead. This ability makes them attractive to powerful undead and necromancers, since the plants do the work of revivifying bodies, leaving the newly created zombies available for control by these powerful creatures. The plants also serve as a line of defense for undead creatures and frustrate enemies who come prepared to destroy undead, but may be surprised by living allies capable of incapacitating their foes with their virulent rotting disease and disgusting odor.

A typical rotshroom stands 3–1/2 tall and weighs 50 pounds.

Frightful Fridays! Forest Linnorm

Hello and welcome back to another installment of Frightful Fridays! I know I gave you plants last week, but the forest linnorm is on the opposite end of the power scale, plus it's technically a dragon. I thought it would be fun to design a less overtly threatening linnorm, but it will react to threats just as nastily as any of its obviously evil cousins.

I hope you enjoy the forest linnorm. See you next week with another monster!

It's treesed to meet you!

Several trees grow from this dragonlike creature, creating horns sprouting from its forehead and a row of spines down its back.

Forest Linnorm      CR 18

XP 153,600

N Colossal dragon

Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, true seeing; Perception +29

DEFENSE

AC 34, touch 8, flat-footed 28 (+6 Dex, +26 natural, –8 size)

hp 310 (20d12+180)

Fort +21, Ref +20, Will +18

Defensive Abilities freedom of movement; DR 15/cold iron; Immune curse effects, electricity, negative energy, plant traits; SR 29

OFFENSE

Speed 50 ft., burrow 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 120 ft. (poor)

Melee bite +28 (3d6+16), 2 claws +28 (2d6+16), slam +28 (2d8+16/19–20), tail slap +23 (2d6+8 plus grab)

Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon (DC 29), constrict (2d6+16), death curse, poison

STATISTICS

Str 43, Dex 22, Con 28, Int 7, Wis 22, Cha 29

Base Atk +20; CMB +44 (+46 bull rush, +48 grapple); CMD 60 (62 vs. bull rush, can't be tripped)

Feats Awesome Blow, Blind-fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Improved Vital Strike, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Vital Strike

Skills Climb +30, Fly +10, Knowledge (nature) +21, Perception +29, Stealth +13 (+25 in forests), Swim +23; Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth in forests

Languages Draconic, Sylvan; plantspeech

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate hills

Organization solitary

Treasure triple

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Breath Weapon (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds as a standard action, a forest linnorm can expel a 60-foot cone of electrified, grasping vines, dealing 20d8 points of electricity damage to all creatures struck (Reflex DC 29 for half). Creatures that fail their saves are immobilized in the vines, while creatures that save are entangled. The vines remain for 1d4 rounds, filling the cone-shaped area, before withering. Any creature that ends its turn in the vines take 4d6 points of electricity damage (no save). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Death Curse (Su) Curse of Forest’s Foe: save Will DC 29; effect the creature is treated as entangled when it is in forest terrain, the creature takes a –10 penalty on Survival skill checks and all physical skill checks within a forest, and all plants have an initial attitude of hostile toward the creature, gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls against the creature, and their attacks deal an extra 2d6 points of damage to the creature.

Plantspeech (Ex) A forest linnorm has the ability to converse with plants as if subject to a continual speak with plants spell. Most plants greet the linnorm with an attitude of friendly or helpful.

Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 29; frequency 1/round for 10 rounds; effect 4d6 electricity damage and 1d6 Str drain; cure 2 consecutive saves.

Forest linnorms are a species of so-called southern linnorms, which are decidedly less harsh than their cousins to the north in reflection of the gentler nature of their territory. This does not mean forest linnorms are immediately friendly to trespassers, but they generally prefer to converse before attacking. However, creatures that harm the forest the linnorms call home receive their immediate wrath. The draconic creatures provide homes to animals, a variety of plants (sentient and non-sentient), and fey. When at rest, forest linnorms look like a copse of trees and incidentally provide shade and shelter for visitors to their sizable mass. Provided these visitors do no harm to the trees making up the linnorm’s body, it is possible the visitors may never realize they encountered a living creature. Forest linnorms shed seeds from the trees comprising their bodies to regrow forests which have been devastated by natural catastrophes or destruction wrought by humanoids.

A forest linnorm is 55 feet long and weighs about 12,000 pounds.

Frightful Fridays! Festive Leshys

Hello and welcome back for another installment of Frightful Fridays! This week you're getting leshys, because everyone needs more leshys. You can put these in your Yuletide-themed games or pretty much anywhere else where you've got a forest. Go crazy!

I hope you enjoy these leshys, and I'll see you next week with something else. Thanks for reading!

Mwahahahahaha!

Bright red berries grow in clusters on this plant resembling a humanoid. Its razor-sharp leaves contrast with the berries’ cheerful appearance.

Holly Leshy      CR 3

XP 800

N Small plant (leshy, shapechanger)

Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)

hp 30 (4d8+12)

Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3

Defensive Abilities sharp leaves; Immune electricity, plant traits, sonic

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee slam +6 (1d6/19–20 plus 1d2 bleed)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +6)

   Constant—pass without trace

   1/day—goodberry

STATISTICS

Str 10, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14

Base Atk +3; CMB +2; CMD 14

Feats Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse

Skills Heal +4, Perception +9, Stealth +6 (+10 in forests), Survival +4 (+8 in forests); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in forests, +4 Survival in forests

Languages Druidic, Sylvan; plantspeech

SQ change shape (Small holly bush; tree shape), holly berries, verdant burst

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate or warm forests

Organization solitary or hedge (2–9)

Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Holly Berries (Ex) A holly leshy begins combat with 4 berries with healing properties. It can consume a berry as a move action, which heals it 1d4 hit points. The leshy replenishes its berries at a rate of 1 berry per 6 hours; it can have no more than 4 berries at a time.

Sharp Leaves (Ex) A holly leshy’s leaves are painfully sharp, increasing its critical threat range with its slam attack to 19–20 and allowing it to inflict 1d2 points of bleed damage on a successful strike. Additionally, when a creature grapples a holly leshy or successfully hits it with an unarmed attack or natural attack, the creature must succeed on a DC 15 Reflex save or take 1d6 points of damage. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Holly leshys have a dichotomous nature, acting as a bloodthirsty warrior and simultaneously as a caring healer. Among plants and creatures they are sworn to protect, the leshys are generally kind and helpful, but they have short tempers and often storm off in a huff when something bothers them. This lasts for a few minutes before they return, very apologetic for the outburst. When something threatens their home, though, they fly into action and slice up their opponents, giving them no quarter. This ferociousness makes it difficult for allies other than holly leshys to get the leshys to leave survivors. This also makes it difficult for them to remain still and wait for enemies to approach so they can attack them with the element of surprise. Holly leshy impetuousness sometimes exasperates lotus leshys with which they share homes.

A typical holly leshy grows to 2 feet in height and weighs 15 pounds.

Growing a Holly Leshy

A holly leshy can grow in any forested area. It must receive at least one drop of blood and a berry from a goodberry spell to grow.

Holly Leshy

CL 8th; Price 4,500 gp

RITUAL

Requirements Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, bloody claws[APG], goodberry, plant growth, summon nature’s ally III; Skill Knowledge (nature) DC 16; Cost 2,250 price gp

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This softly nettled plant is shaped like a somewhat pear-shaped humanoid. Several pine cone droop from its limbs.

Pine Leshy      CR 6

XP 2,400

N Medium plant (leshy, shapechanger)

Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +12

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +6 natural)

hp 67 (9d8+27)

Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +6

Immune electricity, plant traits, sonic; Resist cold 5

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee 2 slams +12 (1d6+9 plus grab)

Ranged pine cone +9 (1d6+6)

Special Attacks pine sap, shower of cones

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +11)

   Constant—pass without trace

STATISTICS

Str 23, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 15

Base Atk +6; CMB +12 (+14 disarm, +16 grapple); CMD 24

Feats Cleave, Great Cleave, Power Attack, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (pine cone)

Skills Perception +12, Stealth +8 (+12 in forests), Survival +12 (+16 in forests); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in forests, +4 Survival in forests

Languages Druidic, Sylvan; plantspeech

SQ change shape (Medium pine tree, tree shape), verdant burst

ECOLOGY

Environment cold or temperate forests

Organization solitary or stand (2–7)

Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Pine Cone (Ex) A pine leshy’s pine cone has a range increment of 30 feet.

Pine Sap (Ex) A pine leshy gains a +2 racial bonus to its CMB for disarm attempts. Additionally, it takes a –2 penalty to its CMD to resist grapple attempts, but it receives a +2 racial bonus to its CMD against attempts to break free of its grapple.

Shower of Cones (Ex) Once per day, a pine leshy can take a standard action, without incurring attacks of opportunity, to violently shake off several pine cones. This deals 2d6 bludgeoning damage to every creature adjacent to the leshy (DC 17 Reflex halves).

Pine leshys are one of the largest known species of leshy, but they are typically gentle giants. They can thrive in almost any environment, but they prefer colder climates where they can provide protection to less adaptable plants and animals. They are slow to provoke to anger, but antagonizing them to that point unleashes a series of unrelenting nettle-filled smacks. If they aren’t incited to attack, they attempt to defuse a combat by grabbing hold of the most troublesome participant or interposing themselves between opponents.

During downtime, pine leshys are very kind and spend much of their time listening to other plants’ concerns. The leshys offer warm embraces to creatures which accept them and suggestions for issues regarding those they view as friends. Pine leshys often travel to humanoid settlements to extend friendship and take care of the plants and animals living there.

A typical pine leshy is 5–1/2 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Growing a Pine Leshy

A pine leshy grows best among other conifers. It must be coated in fresh pine needles to ensure its growth.

Pine Leshy

CL 14th Price 12,000 gp

RITUAL

Requirements Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks, plant growth, resinous skin, summon nature’s ally VI; Skill Knowledge (nature) DC 21; Cost 6,000 gp

Frightful Fridays! Thanksgiving Surprise! Disemboweling Fowl

Happy Thanksgiving! In celebration, I'm delivering this week's monster a day early. You may want to wait until well after your turkey (or whatever you eat to celebrate Thanksgiving...or Thursday for those of you outside the states) before you read this one. Making monsters gets me confused about the holidays, so I treat it more like Halloween, hence the axe-wielding turkey that loves to gut humans.

I hope you enjoy(?) today's offering. See you next week with another monster!

Stock images make everything less frightening!

This human-sized turkey has crazed eyes and its wattle drip with gore. It wields a small axe suitable for lopping off turkey heads in both of its wings.

Disemboweling Fowl      CR 11

XP 12,800

NE Medium magical beast

Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15

DEFENSE

AC 25, touch 15, flat-footed 20 (+5 Dex, +10 natural)

hp 147 (14d10+70)

Fort +14, Ref +14, Will +10

Defensive Abilities ferocity, fortification (50%), improved evasion, improved uncanny dodge, slippery mind

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (clumsy)

Melee handaxe +21/+16/+11 (1d6+9/15–20/×3) or

   bite +20 (2d6+6/18–20), 2 talons +20 (1d8+6/18–20)

Special Attacks disembowelment, razor sharpness, sneak attack +6d6, visceral death

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th; concentration +13)

   3/day—vanish[APG]

STATISTICS

Str 22, Dex 20, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 22, Cha 11

Base Atk +14; CMB +20; CMD 35

Feats Cleave, Dazzling Display, Deadly Finish[UC], Disheartening Display[ACG], Improved Initiative, Martial Weapon Proficiency (handaxe), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (handaxe)

Skills Fly +2, Intimidate +16, Perception +15, Stealth +14; Racial Modifiers Intimidate +16

SQ fast stealth

ECOLOGY

Environment any temperate land

Organization solitary

Treasure standard (hand axe plus other treasure)

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Disembowelment (Ex) When a disemboweling fowl confirms a critical hit or deals sneak attack damage, its opponent takes 2d4 points of bleed damage and is staggered for 1 round. It must also attempt a DC 22 Fortitude save. On a failure, the victim is nauseated for 1 minute, while a successful save reduces this to sickened for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Fast Stealth (Ex) A disemboweling fowl can move at full speed using its Stealth skill without penalty.

Razor Sharpness (Ex) Every weapon wielded by a disemboweling fowl has a critical threat range of 15–20. Its natural weapons have a critical threat range of 17–20.

Slippery Mind (Ex) If a disemboweling fowl is affected by an enchantment spell or effect and fails its saving throw, it can attempt it again 1 round later. The fowl only receives one extra chance to succeed on the saving throw.

Visceral Death (Ex) When a disemboweling fowl dispatches an opponent, it can make a free Intimidate check to demoralize all opponents within 30 feet as per its Dazzling Display feat. It also gains the benefits of Disheartening Display for this attempt.

Possessed by the spirits of turkeys mass murdered to put food on tables for a once per year event, a disemboweling fowl turns the tables on the murderers. It enacts vengeance with its sharp blade but will make do with its sharp talons and beak if it somehow becomes separated from its beloved axe. The fowl seeks to sow terror in its victims before opening up their bellies and often starts an encounter by violently waving its axe about. It then moves about stealthily, using vanish to seemingly disappear, to heighten the feeling of dread before it launches an attack. When it kills a victim, it makes a sudden, macabre display of pulling out the victim’s intestines and wrapping itself up in them. It only stops killing when its victims have fled, or it dies. In the aftermath, it feasts on its slain victims and gives an eerie elated gobble when it sates itself.

While it refuses to work with humanoids regardless of their disposition toward others, it teams up with powerful beasts which harbor the same hatred. It often waits for its partners to launch a frontal assault while it sneaks up on its prey. Of course, it ensures its prey knows of its presence at least a split second before driving its axe home.

Frightful Fridays! Undead Wolves

Hello and welcome back for another Frightful Fridays! This week's monster duo is courtesy of my friend Patrick who asked for collections of undead animals. The wolf head swarm and the ghostly wolf troop worked together nicely, so I decided to put them both out simultaneously.

I hope you enjoy either or both sets of wolves. I'll see you next week!

Like this, but a couple of dozen more...

Foul, necromantic energies animate hundreds of wolf heads, which let loose simultaneously with a chilling howl.

Deadwolf Swarm      CR 10

XP 9,600

CE Tiny undead (swarm)

Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Perception +26

DEFENSE

AC 25, touch 17, flat-footed 20 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +8 natural, +2 size)

hp 127 (15d8+60)

Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +12

Defensive Abilities swarm traits; DR 10/good; Immune undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft.

Melee swarm (3d6 negative energy plus 1d8 Dexterity damage, distraction, and trip)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks dexterity drain, distraction (DC 20), mournful howl, trip

STATISTICS

Str 14, Dex 19, Con —, Int 7, Wis 16, Cha 17

Base Atk +11; CMB — (+17 trip); CMD —

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Skill Focus (Intimidate), Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness

Skills Intimidate +27, Perception +26, Stealth +16

ECOLOGY

Environment cold or temperate forests

Organization solitary, pair, death pack (3–6)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Dexterity Drain (Su) A creature that takes Dexterity damage from a deadwolf swarm must succeed at a DC 20 Fortitude save or half of the Dexterity damage converts to Dexterity drain. When a creature fails the save, the deadwolf swarm gains 5 temporary hit points. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Mournful Howl (Su) As a swift action, a deadwolf swarm can let loose a terrifying howl, allowing it a free Intimidate check to demoralize all creatures within 60 feet that can hear the howl. A creature within the swarm and already suffering the shaken condition becomes frightened on a failed save. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Trip (Ex) A deadwolf swarm can trip opponents it damages with its swarm attack. Its effective CMB equals BAB + Strength modifier + 4 (racial bonus), giving a typical deadwolf swarm CMB +17.

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Every spectral wolf in this regimented group numbering over a dozen bares its teeth menacingly.

Ghost Wolf Troop      CR 13

XP 25,600

LE Medium undead (incorporeal, troop)

Init +12; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +25

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 23, flat-footed 14 (+4 deflection, +8 Dex, +1 dodge)

hp 180 (19d8+95)

Fort +10, Ref +16, Will +16

Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4, incorporeal, troop traits; DR 10/good and silver; Immune undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed fly 50 ft. (perfect); sprint

Melee troop (4d6+8 negative energy)

Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks chilling howl

STATISTICS

Str —, Dex 27, Con —, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 19

Base Atk +14; CMB +22; CMD 37 (can't be tripped)

Feats Dodge, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Toughness, Wind Stance

Skills Fly +23, Intimidate +26, Perception +25, Stealth +26, Survival +22

ECOLOGY

Environment any land

Organization solitary or pack (2–4)

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Chilling Howl (Su) As a standard action, a ghost wolf troop can release negative energy in the form of a howl in unison. All creatures within the troop’s space and within 20 feet of the troop must attempt a DC 23 Will save. Creatures sharing a space with the troop take 8d6 points of negative energy damage and are stunned for 1d4 rounds on a failed save. Creatures not sharing a space with the troop gain a +2 circumstance bonus on their Will saves, and take 4d6 points of negative energy damage and are stunned for 1 round on a failed save. A successful save halves the damage and negates the stunned effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Sprint (Ex) Once per minute a ghost wolf troop may sprint, increasing its speed to 100 feet for 1 round.

Deadwolf swarms and ghost wolf troops each arise as a result of the mass slaughter of living wolves. Sometimes, the inciting event will create both deadwolf swarms and ghost wolf troops, particularly if the wolves were decapitated en masse. The first order of business for the undead wolves is to destroy the person or people responsible for their deaths. Afterwards, the wolves continue hunting as packs like they did in life, but they usually target intelligent prey rather than game. Powerful vampires and liches attract both types of undead to their side with promises of plenty of fresh kills in return for protection. These undead controllers stand amid the wolves with little fear of harm from the creatures, adding a further element of terror in their battles against the living.

Frightful Fridays! Glitteranha

Hello and welcome back to another Frightful Fridays! I might get used to actually dropping these on Friday. Today's monster is a cute and cuddly voracious fey that can blind their prey and attach to them with their sharp teeth. Glitteranhas encountered in swarms don't stick to their victims, but they leave bloodier wounds, so it's not much of a trade off.

I hope you enjoy the glitteranha, and I'll see you next week with another monster!

 It's an adorable little psychopath

This bipedal creature has fish scales, cartilaginous wings, fin-like ears, and a dorsal fin atop its head. Its face features lifeless eyes and a grinning mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, which it continually gnashes.

Glitteranha      CR 3

XP 800

NE Tiny fey (aquatic)

Init +7; Senses low-light vision; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 size)

hp 27 (5d6+10)

Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +4

DR 5/cold iron

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (good), swim 30 ft.

Melee bite +7 (1d3–1 plus attach and 1d2 bleed)

Space 2–1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks glittering assault

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th; concentration +11)

   At will—glitterdust (DC 14)

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 11, Cha 14

Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 13

Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +11 (+3 to jump), Escape Artist +11, Fly +15, Perception +8, Stealth +17, Swim +15

SQ amphibious

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forests, lakes, or plains

Organization solitary, pair, gnash (3–20)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Attach (Ex) For each round a glitteranha remains attached to a creature, its bleed damage becomes cumulative.

Glittering Assault (Sp) As part of a move action or charge where a glitteranha ends its move adjacent to or in the same square as an enemy, it can cast glitterdust, targeting only that foe. It must succeed at a DC 19 concentration check, for which it has a +4 racial bonus, otherwise the spell has no effect. If it succeeds in using glitterdust and its opponent is blinded as a result, it takes no attack of opportunity from that foe for moving through its threatened squares.

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Numerous razor-toothed flying fey comprise this cloud of creatures, heralded with insane chittering and gnashing of teeth.

Glitteranha Swarm      CR 8

XP 4,800

NE Tiny fey (aquatic, swarm)

Init +10; Senses low-light vision; Perception +17

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural, +2 size)

hp 102 (12d6+60)

Fort +10, Ref +14, Will +10

Defensive Abilities swarm traits; DR 10/cold iron; SR 19

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (good), swim 30 ft.

Melee swarm (3d6 plus 1d6 bleed and distraction)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Special Attacks blinding light, distraction (DC 20)

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 23, Con 18, Int 7, Wis 15, Cha 16

Base Atk +6; CMB —; CMD —

Feats Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Toughness, Wind Stance

Skills Acrobatics +21 (+13 to jump), Fly +21, Intimidate +15, Perception +17, Stealth +21, Swim +21

SQ amphibious

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forests, lakes, or plains

Organization solitary or bloodchurn (2–8)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Blinding Light (Su) At the end of a glitteranha swarm’s movement, it targets all creatures within its space and all creatures adjacent to it with an effect similar to glitterdust. Creatures that succeed on DC 19 Will save are dazzled for 1 round. As per glitterdust, a blinded creature can attempt a new Will save at the end of its turn. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Glitteranhas are fey creatures which used to hunt in otherwise pristine lakes. Their tremendous appetites caused them to strip their homes of food, and they eventually turned on each other. Their cannibalistic acts cursed them to a life of never-ending hunger but provided adaptations to diversify their hunting range. Individually, glitteranhas are tenacious foes and rarely let go of prey once they have latched on. While they have the ability to blind prey from a distance, they lack the patience to wait for it to take effect and often charge in to tear flesh from their targets. More frighteningly, glitteranhas gather in massive swarms and annihilate life where they pass. Their greater numbers induce a strange feedback which improves their defensive capabilities, making them much more difficult to repel. However, once the swarm disperses, individual glitteranhas attack and devour each other, creating a gruesome sight.

A typical glitteranha measures 2 feet in length and weighs 30 pounds. The creatures can live up to 60 years, but their voracious appetites tend to shorten this lifespan.

Frightful Fridays! Physiscopia

Hello and welcome back to another Frightful Fridays! This week's monster is actually posting on Friday, making it 5 in a row, which is a recent record. I'll try to keep the momentum going. Anyway, today's monster, the physiscopia, is essentially a menagerie of animals (with accents of plant). It hurts the physiscopia when it yanks an animal from its collective, but the animal benefits from any ongoing protections/augmentations benefiting the physcopia.

I'll be back next week with another monster. Thanks for reading!

It's Wild!

A riot of animals lines this humanoid creature’s “skin,” which also features bark from numerous different trees. A cacophony of roars, howls, bird cries, and trumpets erupts from the creature.

Physiscopia      CR 8

XP 4,800

N Large monstrous humanoid

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +16

DEFENSE

AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+4 Dex, +8 natural, –1 size)

hp 95 (10d10+40)

Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +10

DR 5/cold iron

OFFENSE

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

Melee bite +14 (1d8+5), 2 claws +14 (1d6+5), gore +14 (1d8+5)

Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.

Special Attacks detach animal, wild shape (as 8th level druid, animal forms only, 5/day)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +12)

   At will—speak with animals

   1/day—aspect of the bear[APG], aspect of the falcon[APG], aspect of the stag[APG], aspect of the wolf[APG], blessing of the salamander[APG], greater animal aspect[UC]

Druid Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +13)

   5th—animal growth (DC 18), commune with nature

   4th—atavism[UM] (DC 17), bloody claws[APG] (DC 17), thorn body[APG]

   3rd—dominate animal (DC 16), mad monkeys[UM], greater magic fang, rain of frogs[UM]

   2nd—animal messenger, barkskin, bear's endurance, bull's strength, summon swarm

   1st—calm animals (DC 14), charm animal (DC 14), entangle (DC 14), hide from animals, longstrider

   0 (at will)—create water, know direction, resistance, stabilize

STATISTICS

Str 20, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 15

Base Atk +10; CMB +16; CMD 30

Feats Great Fortitude, Natural Spell, Outflank[APG], Quick Wild Shape[UM], Wild Speech[UM]

Skills Climb +13, Fly +11, Handle Animal +15, Knowledge (nature) +14, Perception +16, Survival +16, Swim +12

Languages Sylvan; speak with animals

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary or menagerie (2–12)

Treasure incidental

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Detach Animal (Su) As a move action, a physiscopia can release an animal from its collective mass. This acts as a summon nature’s ally I–V spell (CL 10th), but the physiscopia can only call forth a single creature with the animal type. This ability deals an amount of damage to the physiscopia equal to twice the spell level. If the animal is still alive at the end of the spell’s duration, it returns to the physiscopia’s mass, healing it the same amount of hit points. An animal called forth in this way benefits from all spells and spell-like abilities affecting the physiscopia when it uses this ability. The animal is also treated as possessing any teamwork feats possessed by the physiscopia. Additionally, the animal gains DR 2/cold iron. A physiscopia must call forth a different animal each time it uses this ability, unless an animal has returned to its mass. It must wait 24 hours before it can use this ability for an animal that has died.

Chosen guardians of nature, physiscopias embody all elements of animals and plants. Lesser physiscopias lean more toward animal aspects, while more powerful specimens combine fauna and flora. They contain all known animal species within their whole and can pluck individual animals to help them combat those who harm the natural world. Physiscopias have humanoid origins and maintain an awareness of the balance between civilization and nature, so they check their attacks against humanoids who unwittingly harm their protectorates, seeking only to drive the offenders away. Against deliberate encroachment, though, physiscopias allow their primal nature to take hold and pursue and kill transgressors. Because the animals are part of a physiscopia gestalt, anything benefitting physiscopias also benefits the animals they detach from the whole. Given enough time to prepare, physiscopias can create a powerful army of animals with which they can overwhelm their foes. Physiscopias are aware of the danger they expose their animal components to when they pull them out for battle and mourn every animal they lose in a fight.

Typical physiscopias stand 8 feet tall and weigh 400 pounds. They have a lifespan of 200 years, but very few of them reach old age.

A druid of at least 10th level can become a physiscopia through a 24-hour ritual that takes place at one of the equinoxes. More powerful druids (15th level or higher) who become physiscopias gain access to higher level summon nature’s ally spells for their detach special ability, can call forth plant creatures, and cannot be harmed by animals or plants.

Frightful Fridays! Monster Mayhem! Zha'arg'll

Hello and welcome to the finale of the Frightful Fridays! fifth anniversary celebration! I'd been waiting for the right moment to spring a monster based on the below image, and five years to the date of starting this feature seemed appropriate. Some of Zha'arg'll's aspects take their cue from the awesome move, Harbinger Down, and those of you who have seen the movie will pick up on those right away. Thanks for reading along during this month of monsters!

If you enjoyed these monsters, please consider taking a look at my Patreon page and pledging as little as $1/month. It is thanks to the support of my patrons that I could devote a month designing monsters (weighing in at a total of 22,000 words for the month) for the blog.

Worst Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Float Ever!
(alternatively: That's No Balloon!)

This massive eight-legged, segmented creature floats lazily. A pink fluid oozes from its mouth and the short claws at the end of its limbs.

Zha'arg'll      CR 30

XP 9,830,400

CN Colossal magical beast (kaiju)

Init +12; Senses darkvision 600 ft., low-light vision; Perception +48

DEFENSE

AC 50, touch 10, flat-footed 42 (+8 Dex, +40 natural, –8 size)

hp 774 (36d10+576); fast healing 30

Fort +35, Ref +28, Will +26

Defensive Abilities amorphous, ferocity, indestructible, reactive reshape, recovery, splashback; DR 20/epic and slashing; Immune ability damage, ability drain, acid, death effects, disease, energy drain, fear; Resist cold 20, electricity 30, fire 30, negative energy 30, sonic 30

Weaknesses vulnerability to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft., fly 90 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft.

Melee 4 slams +49 (6d10+21/19–20 plus 4d6 acid and disease)

Space 30 ft.; Reach 20 ft.

Special Attacks breath weapon (DC 43), disease, engulf (DC 49, 20d6 acid and disease), hurl foe

STATISTICS

Str 53, Dex 26, Con 41, Int 3, Wis 34, Cha 28

Base Atk +36; CMB +65 (+67 bull rush or drag, +69 sunder); CMD 83 (85 vs. bull rush, drag, or sunder, 91 vs. trip)

Feats Awesome Blow, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Greater Sunder, Greater Vital Strike, Hover, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Drag[APG], Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Vital Strike, Iron Will, Power Attack, Staggering Critical, Stunning Critical, Toughness, Vital Strike

Skills Fly +10, Perception +48, Swim +48

Languages Aklo (can’t speak)

SQ compression, massive

ECOLOGY

Environment any cold

Organization solitary (unique)

Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Breath Weapon (Su) Once every 1d4 rounds as a standard action, Zha'arg'll can expel pink vomit to a range of 300 feet. Each creature caught in the line must succeed at a DC 43 Reflex save or take 20d6 points of acid damage. A successful save halves the damage. If a creature takes any damage from Zha'arg'll’s breath weapon, it is subject to Zha'arg'll’s genetic rewrite disease (with a +4 circumstance bonus on the save against the disease on a successful Reflex save). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Genetic Rewrite Disease (Su) Breath weapon, engulf, or slam—injury; save Fort DC 43; onset 1d6 rounds; frequency 1 round; effect 2d6 points of damage to each physical ability score and staggered for 1 round; cure 4 consecutive saves. Victims otherwise immune to disease are affected by Zha'arg'll’s disease, but they receive a +8 enhancement bonus on their Fortitude saves. Heal does not automatically remove the disease; a caster level check must be attempted as per remove disease, but casting heal grants a +8 bonus to the check. Additionally, dealing 70 points of cold damage to a victim cures the disease.

If any of the victim’s physical ability scores drop to 0 as a result of this disease, it dies and transforms into a puddle of goo. Any creature touching this goo is subject to this disease. At the end of Zha'arg'll’s next turn, any puddles of goo rejoin Zha'arg'll and heal it a number of hit points equal to the slain creature’s total hit points. Any excess hit points are treated as temporary hit points and last for 1 hour.

Indestructible (Su) Zha'arg'll does not die unless it takes at least half its total hit points in cold damage. While it appears dead when its hit points are reduced to a negative amount equal to its Constitution score, its remains go dormant and respawn Zha'arg'll anew after a year. Destroying Zha'arg'll requires dealing cold damage equal to its total hit points and successfully casting remove disease or heal 7 times (using the save DC for its genetic rewrite disease, and subject to its effects on heal) within 10 minutes of dealing the cold damage.

Reactive Reshape (Ex) When Zha'arg'll is targeted by a ranged attack or a melee piercing weapon, it can spend one use of its Combat Reflexes feat to make a combat maneuver check in place of its Armor Class (against touch attacks, the combat maneuver check takes a –8 penalty).

Splashback (Ex) A creature that strikes Zha'arg'll with a melee attack must attempt a DC 36 Reflex save to avoid taking 4d6 points of acid damage and being subject to Zha'arg'll’s genetic rewrite disease. This affects creatures at a range up to 20 feet from Zha'arg'll, but every 5 feet away from it grants a +2 circumstance bonus on the save. The save DC is Dexterity-based.

Zha'arg'll, the Affliction from Beyond the Stars, comes from a now dead world where experimenters sought to create a gestalt mind to unify all the world’s populace. They learned too late they received instructions from powerful and ancient beings which wanted to terminate life in the universe. In a last-ditch effort to save the world, the leaders used magic and technology to jettison the creature into the cold depths of space. Unfortunately, they couldn’t scour the creature’s remnants, and they grew quietly into another creature and, with the world spent of its resources to deal with a repeat of the threat, laid waste to everything. Meanwhile, the original creation drifted until it crash landed in the polar region of its new home. There it waits until it feels body heat and senses intelligence, at which point it will activate and begin its reign of destruction anew.

Zha'arg'll seems relatively harmless despite its size. Its appearance is similar to a tardigrade writ large, and its stubby legs end in seemingly useless claws. However, Zha'arg'll is actually comprised of billions of microscopic tardigrades it can keep to a cohesive whole. When it strikes a target, it sloughs off thousands of the microscopic creatures, inflicting almost no harm to the composite creature. This infestation overwrites the genetic code of the victim, eventually transforming its victim’s flesh and bones into more of itself. When the victim dies, the resulting mass rejoins Zha'arg'll, adding to its mass and restoring any injuries it may have incurred.

When Zha'arg'll “dies,” it explodes in a shower of seemingly inert gore. However, its remaining viable genetic material leaks into the ground and undergoes a dormant cycle where it regrows to its full size after a year, devouring and assimilating whatever fauna it can find. As it grows, the bizarre creature sends out a subliminal pulse to nearby polar tribes This pulse promises great power to those who find it and assume it as a mantle.

Frightful Fridays! Monster Mayhem! Nameless Naga

Welcome back for the next to last October monster! The nameless naga is not quite at the Great Old One level, but it is a wonderful associate for one. It also doesn't mind consuming PCs' minds or reducing their bodies to piles of goo. If the nagas are feeling especially cooperative, they might be able to open a gate to call forth a primordial deity. Fun!

There's one more monster to go this month, and I'm looking forward to unveiling it tomorrow!

Cthulhulicious

An octopus head with a mouth surrounded by tentacles tops this serpentine body, from which sprout six arms ending in wicked claws.

Nameless Naga      CR 29

XP 6,553,600

CE Huge aberration

Init +17; Senses darkvision 60 ft., true seeing; Perception +40

Aura will suppression (DC 37)

DEFENSE

AC 47, touch 25, flat-footed 30 (+17 Dex, +22 natural, –2 size)

hp 731 (34d8+578); regeneration 30 (fire)

Fort +27, Ref +28, Will +27

DR 20/cold iron, epic, and lawful; Immune ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, petrification, poison; Resist electricity 30, fire 20; SR 40

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft. (good), swim 90 ft.

Melee bite +39 (5d6+15/19–20 plus 3d6 bleed, grab, and poison), 6 claws +39 (3d8+15/19–20 plus grab), tail slap +36 (3d8+7 plus grab)

Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.

Special Attacks brush with madness, constrict (tail only, 3d8+15), dissolution, eviscerate, independent grapple, poison, sneak attack +10d6, surprise slash, swallow whole (12d6 acid, AC 21, 73 hp)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 34th; concentration +44)

   Constant—true seeing

   At will—deeper darkness

Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 20th; concentration +30)

   9th (7/day)—dominate monster (DC 31), mass hold monster (DC 31), transmute blood to acid[UM] (DC 31)

   8th (7/day)—frightful aspect[UC], irresistible dance (DC 30), polymorph any object (DC 30)

   7th (7/day)—greater hostile juxtaposition[UC] (DC 27), insanity (DC 29), spell turning

   6th (8/day)—cloak of dreams[APG] (DC 28), greater dispel magic, mass suggestion (DC 28)

   5th (8/day)—baleful polymorph (DC 27), feeblemind (DC 27), hold monster (DC 27), mind fog (DC 27)

   4th (8/day)—bestow curse (DC 24), black tentacles, charm monster (DC 26), mindwipe[OA] (DC 26)

   3rd (8/day)—displacement, haste, lightning bolt (DC 23), slow (DC 25)

   2nd (9/day)—blindness/deafness (DC 22), false life, hideous laughter (DC 24), mirror image, touch of idiocy

   1st (9/day)—mage armor, magic missile, protection from law, reduce person (DC 23), shield

   0 (at will)—acid splash, bleed (DC 20), dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, prestidigitation, ray of frost, resistance, touch of fatigue (DC 20)

STATISTICS

Str 40, Dex 45, Con 42, Int 21, Wis 26, Cha 31

Base Atk +25; CMB +42 (+46 grapple); CMD 69 (can't be tripped)

Feats Bleeding Critical, Combat Casting[B], Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Eschew Materials[B], Greater Spell Focus (enchantment, transmutation), Improved Critical (bite, claw), Multiattack, Sneaking Precision[UC], Spell Focus (enchantment, transmutation), Stand Still, Stealthy, Toughness, Weapon Focus (bite, claw)

Skills Acrobatics +44 (+56 to jump), Bluff +42, Climb +31, Escape Artist +48, Fly +17, Intimidate +40, Knowledge (arcana, planes) +39, Perception +40, Spellcraft +40, Stealth +46, Swim +31, Use Magic Device +40

Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Common, Infernal; telepathy 120 ft.

SQ compression, improbable arcane engine

ECOLOGY

Environment any

Organization solitary or coven (3)

Treasure double

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Brush with Madness (Su) After a nameless naga’s mind-affecting spell ends or is resisted, the target creature must attempt a DC 37 Will save or become confused for 2d6 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Dissolution (Su) If a swallowed creature is reduced to less than 0 hp, it must succeed at a DC 43 Fortitude save or disintegrate, healing the nameless naga by an amount of hit points equal to twice the creature’s Hit Dice.

Eviscerate (Ex) If a nameless naga maintains a grapple against an opponent, it deals 2d6 points of damage to a physical ability score of its choice in addition to the chosen action.

Independent Grapple (Ex) A nameless naga can grapple up to three creatures of two size categories lower than itself (or smaller) without negatively impacting itself.

Improbable Arcane Engine (Su) During its turn, a nameless naga can either use deeper darkness as a quickened spell-like ability or cast a quickened 6th-level spell or lower, without using higher slot.

Nameless Naga Poison (Ex) Poison—Injury; save Fort DC 43; frequency 1/round for 10 rounds; effect 2d4 points of damage to all stats; cure 3 consecutive saves.

Spells A nameless naga casts spells as a 20th-level sorcerer.

Surprise Slash (Ex) A nameless naga inflicts half its sneak attack damage to an opponent it has grappled.

Will Suppression Aura (Su) The first time a creature enters a nameless naga’s will suppression aura, it must attempt a DC 37 Will save. On a failure, it permanently loses any immunity to mind-affecting effects it possesses, and replaces it with a +8 enhancement bonus on saves against mind-affecting effects. Creatures without immunity to mind-affecting effects that first enter the aura take a permanent –8 penalty on Will saves on a failed save. This is a curse effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Nameless nagas sprung from naga covens who heeded the strange call to travel to dimensions beyond mortal reckoning and came back from the journey…changed. Their altered minds gave them greater command over arcane power and their bodies mutated to make them fearsome adversaries. They have also undertaken a mission to open their world up to the dark gods from beyond and extract information about ancient rituals from their victims to that end. As nihilistic agents of their new lords, they care little about the state of the creatures they encounter and leave gibbering, fearful wrecks in their wake.

Unlike many other nagas, nameless nagas work well together and form covens to better enact their plans. A nameless naga coven works similarly to a hag coven, but only has access to gate, interplanetary teleport[UM], mass suffocation[APG] (DC 31), and weird (DC 31). When all three nagas are within 20 feet of one another, they increase their spell resistance by 5, the save DCs for their spells increase by 2, and their regeneration changes to fast healing. A nameless naga coven can convert a different type of naga into a nameless naga during a two-day-long winter solstice ritual. This new naga must find or form its own coven.

A nameless naga is 25 feet long, including a tail reaching 8 feet in length, and it weighs 1,200 pounds.