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

Tanglefiend
Large Plant
Hit Dice: 7d8+21 (52 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +7 natural), touch
9, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+14
Attack: Tendril slap +9 melee (1d4+5)
Full Attack: 5 tendril slaps +9 melee
(1d4+5) and 2 bites +4 melee (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Constrict 1d8+5, improved
grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, plant
traits
Evolving in the damp soft earth of marshes
and swamps, early tanglefiends learned to pull up
their roots and use them to move about in search
of better nourishment. Over time, these monsters
have become efficient predators, using their former
leaves and stalks to tangle up and immobilize their
prey. The tanglefiend is a knot of green leafy
vines, some unadorned, and some ending in toothy
mouths, eyes, or pincer-like claws. Despite its
mutations, the tanglefiend is still plantlike enough
to be nearly undetectable when hidden amongst
other foliage.
Tanglefiends are somewhat intelligent, and
have been known to plan out ambushes and work
together to take down stronger opponents. Their
language is based solely on gestures, as they
are incapable of making sounds. Tanglefiends
have little interest in the affairs of other species.
They show no interest in treasure or personal
possessions. Tanglefiends build rudimentary lairs
where they spend their dormant hours, usually in
sunny secluded areas of the swamp.
Combat
Tanglefiends swarm over their prey,
attempting to tangle them up and squeeze the life
out of them. They attack with their tendrils in an
effort to grapple and constrict their victims, at
the same time snapping and biting at them with
their mouths. Solitary opponents are quickly
overpowered by the sheer number of limbs with
which the tanglefiend attacks.
A tanglefiend does not use its pincers in
combat, as they are only used to manipulate
objects.
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Saves: Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 7, Wis
10, Cha 9
Skills: Hide -1*, Listen +4, Move Silently
+3, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative,
Lightning Reflexes
Environment: Warm marsh
Organization: Solitary or tangle (5-12)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: 8-14 HD (Large); 15-21 HD
(Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
Constrict (Ex): A tanglefiend deals 1d8+5
points of damage with a successful grapple check.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a
tanglefiend must hit a Large or smaller opponent
with two or more tendril slap attacks. It can then
attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can
constrict. If the tanglefiend chooses to use only its
limbs to hold its opponent rather than conducting
the grapple normally, both tendrils are considered
occupied.
Skills: *Tanglefiends have a +10 racial
bonus on Hide checks when among other plants.
Campaign
A tanglefiend, being a plant, can be grown
from a simple seed. Seeds can be planted nearly
anywhere, and are nearly undetectable. A villain
may gather tanglefiend seeds and plant them
around his stronghold as guardians, or he may
plant them in the PCs’ stronghold, hoping to catch
them off guard. As long as the tanglefiend can
get plenty of water and some sunlight, it should
survive with little effort. Tanglefiend seeds are
also highly valued for their use in many spells
and rituals. Sages, wizards, or druids may pay a
party a tidy fee for a tanglefiend seed pod. A pod
can be harvested from a dead tanglefiend with a
successful DC 20 Survival or Knowledge (nature)
check, and can fetch upwards of 200 gp in some
markets.
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