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

6 Myrcloud
Fine Plant (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 12d8 (54 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: Fly 40 ft. (perfect) (8 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+8 size, +1 Dex), touch 19,
flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/—
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction, spell-like abilities,
spore cloud
Special Qualities: Blindsight 60 ft., immune to
weapon damage, plant traits, swarm traits
Myrclouds are floating masses of fungal spores,
bringers of rot and decay. From a distance, a myrcloud
appears to be a bank of thick yellow fog. Up close,
the fog is little more than thousands of floating spores.
Detailed examination reveals the spores to be tiny
yellow spheres covered in spikes, easily crumbled
apart under pressure. Myrclouds range from 20 to
100 feet in diameter, but their spore density decreases
dramatically at heights above 10 feet.
Myrclouds are intelligent, but show few
recognizable beliefs or emotions. They spend their time
searching for places for their spores to grow—damp
underbrush, rotting trees, and even living creatures
they can infect. Myrclouds usually follow the course
of gentle winds, but some make permanent homes in
moist environments such as swamps and caverns.
Combat
Myrclouds rely on surprise to infect their
enemies with spores. So long as a myrcloud can
infect even one of a group of creatures, it can create
dissent with confusion and heal damage it takes.
If all of a myrcloud’s opponents manage to keep
from breathing its spores, it uses soften earth and
stone to slow the creatures while it waits for a better
opportunity. A myrcloud will fly away from highlydangerous
opponents, sometimes preparing ambushes
to surprise them later. Though myrcloud spores cause
normal damage by digging into the skin of enemies,
myrclouds prefer not to rely on this attack.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that
begins its turn with a myrcloud in its space must
succeed on a DC 16 Fortitude save or be nauseated
for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will—blight (DC 15),
control plants (fungi only) (DC 18), diminish plants
(prune growth only), rusting grasp (no attack roll
necessary) (DC 14), soften earth and stone, speak with
plants. Caster level 10th. The save DCs are Charismabased.
These abilities can only target creatures,
objects, and areas in squares shared by the myrcloud.
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Saves: Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +9
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 17,
Cha 11
Skills: Bluff +4, Diplomacy +2, Intimidate +6,
Knowledge (nature) +20, Move Silently +5,
Search +7, Sense Motive +8, Survival +9 (+11
following tracks, +11 natural environments)
Feats: Ability Focus (spore cloud), Great
Fortitude, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill
Focus (Knowledge [nature])
Environment: Temperate and warm land and
underground
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: None
Level Adjustment: —
Spore Cloud (Ex): A creature sharing a space
with a myrcloud must hold its breath or inhale the
myrcloud’s spores. If a creature begins holding its
breath before entering the myrcloud’s space (or
before the myrcloud enters its space), it follows the
rules for drowning and suffocation, inhaling spores
immediately (but not falling unconscious) if it fails
a Constitution check to hold its breath. A creature
not already holding its breath can make a DC 18
Fortitude save when first entering a myrcloud’s
space to begin holding its breath; failure means that
the creature inhales spores before it can react. The
save DC is Constitution-based.
Inhaled spores die after 24 hours, or when the
spore-bearer is affected by a heal, neutralize poison,
or remove disease spell. A myrcloud can affect
creatures within 60 feet who have inhaled its spores
in a number of ways, using any of the following
abilities as a free action, but only using one effect
on a given creature at a time. The myrcloud can end
any effect prematurely as a free action, so long as the
affected creature is within 60 feet.
Madness: The creature is confused for 2d4
rounds, but is compelled to not attack the myrcloud,
taking no action rather than doing so.
Molder: The spores multiply and attack
the creature from within, inflicting 1d4 points of
Constitution damage each round for 2d4 rounds.
Reproduce: The spores reproduce in the
moisture of the creature’s lungs before floating to
join the main cloud. While the creature is within
30 feet of the myrcloud, the myrcloud is cured of 2
points of damage every turn.
Blindsight (Ex): Myrclouds can sense all
creatures within 60 feet by scent and vibration.
Beyond that range, they are considered blinded.
Myrclouds are invulnerable to gaze attacks, visual
effects of spells such as illusions, and other attack
forms that rely on sight.