Monster Geographica - Marsh & Aquatic.pdf - The Secrets of the ...

Bayowulf
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 7d10+28 (66 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares), swim 40 ft (8
squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +7 natural),
touch 11, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+15
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+6 plus disease)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+6 plus
disease)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft
Special Attacks: Breath of the moor, disease,
howl
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light
vision, scent
A billowing cloud of rolling, gray fog moves
unnaturally swift over the moors.
Bayowulfs stand approximately six feet high
at the shoulder and measure roughly nine feet in
length from snout to hindquarters, with a thin, wiry
tail extending another three feet behind them. They
possess short, stubby ears, protruding jaws bearing
rows of narrow, pointed teeth, thin, brown whiskers,
and luminescent, yellow eyes emitting an unnerving,
malevolent glow. Their four legs end in oddly
shaped, polydactyl, webbed paws tipped with jagged,
calcified claws. Their short, brown fur glistens with
an oily sheen, presumably waterproofing and cooling
their bodies as they wade in the warm, murky waters
of their habitat. Unfortunately for the bayowulf,
trappers and poachers value them as a source of
leather. Although unproved, some sages speculate
that bayowulfs hunt humanoids in preference
to other species as a deliberate response to the
commercial harvesting of their skin.
These savage predators, equally adept at
hunting on land or in shallow water, nomadically
wander an expansive area in search of humanoid
prey. Bayowulfs speak Common and Aquan.
Combat
Bayowulfs rely upon their ability to generate
fog as their first line of defense. In addition to
providing concealment, the billowing mists also
enable the creatures to utilize their Scent ability and
Blind-Fight feat to effectively surround and flank
their adversaries. Although ferocious, bayowulfs flee
underwater when seriously threatened, regrouping
and attacking again at a more advantageous time.
Breath of the Moor (Su): At will, a bayowulf
can exhale a thick, billowing cloud from its lungs
that fills a stationary, 30-foot cube centered on the
105
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 9, Wis
13, Cha 10
Skills: Climb +5, Hide +5, Jump +12, Listen
+5, Move Silently +8, Spot +3, Swim +12,
Survival +1*
Feats: Blind Fight, Stealthy, Weapon Focus
(bite)
Environment: Warm forest and marsh
Organization: Solitary or pack (4-10)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: 10% coins; 25% goods; 50% items
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 8-14 HD (Large); 15-21 HD
(Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
bayowulf. The fog obscures all sight, including
darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet
has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance).
Creatures farther away have total concealment (50%
miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to
locate the target).
A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the fog
in 4 rounds; a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses the
fog in 1 round. Otherwise, the fog disperses in 2d4
rounds. Magical and nonmagical fire immediately
evaporates the mists within the inflammatory
source’s area of effect.
Disease (Ex): Bayou rot—bite, Fortitude
DC 17, incubation period 1 day, damage 1d4 Str.
Creatures failing the save must succeed on another
DC 17 Fortitude save on each subsequent day or
suffer 1 point of Strength drain. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Howl (Su): As a standard action, a bayowulf
can let out a terrifying howl that affects all living
creatures within 20 feet. Affected creatures must
succeed on a DC 13 Will save or be shaken for the
remainder of the encounter. If the save is successful,
that creature cannot be affected again by the same
bayowulf’s howl for 24 hours. This is a sonic, mindaffecting
fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Skills: A bayowulf has a +2 racial bonus on
Hide, Listen, and Move Silently checks.
A bayowulf has a +8 racial bonus on any
Swim check to perform some special action or avoid
a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim
check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use
the run action while swimming, provided it swims in
a straight line.
*A bayowulf has a +4 racial bonus on Survival
checks when tracking by scent.
6