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

9
Blind Lasher
Large Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 8d10+40 (84 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: Swim 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural),
touch 12, flat footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+27
Attack: Tentacle +15 melee (1d6+7 plus 1d6
electricity)
Full Attack: 4 tentacles +15 melee (1d6+7 plus
1d6 electricity)
Space/Reach: 10 ft../l0 ft.
Special Attacks: Grapple swarm, lightning burst
Special Qualities: Blind, blindsight 60 ft., devour
magic, magic sense, magic weapon resistance,
The blind lasher resembles a large, grey-mottled
octopus. Found in the deepest reaches of the ocean, its
largest features are the huge, white eyes on either side
of its body. Four of its tentacles are more developed
than the others, delivering a nasty shock to those who
get too close. Lashers feed on magical energy, which
they drain from spells cast on them, magic items, or
the flesh of creatures with supernatural, spell-like or
spellcasting abilities. They live as long as 800 years,
though few survive to be that old because of their
difficulties in finding sustenance.
Combat
A lasher prefers to grapple with its foes,
using its many arms to render prey immobile while
shocking them into submission with a lightning touch.
It attacks individuals from ambush, going after a
group only if driven to starvation. When fighting
multiple opponents, the creature separates one target
from its fellows, grappling with a flurry of tentacles
before concentrating on the next target. Once there
are no further threats, it takes all the magical items
or creatures with magical powers back to its lair to
dine on them m a secure location. Creatures taken by
a blind lasher usually only have an hour or two to live
at most, making rescue attempt difficult.
Devour Magic (Su): These creatures absorb
magical energy from objects they come into contact
with. To do so, the blind lasher must first suppress
the item’s arcane power with its dispel magic ability
and then spend a full round action to absorb the item’s
magic. At the end of this action, the creature must
make another dispel check against the item. If this
succeeds, the item’s magic is devoured and it is now
a normal, nonmagical object. If the check fails, the
magic is not devoured, but the creature may try again
next round if the item is still under the effects of dispel
magic. The blind lasher generally only devours magic
items when any obvious threats have been eliminated.
To absorb the magical abilities of creatures,
the blind lasher must first succeed on a melee attack
160
pressure dependence, resistance to cold 20 and
electricity 20, spell-like abilities, spell resistance 20
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +5
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 5, Wis 12,
Cha 7
Skills: Hide +6*, Listen +3, Spot +7, Swim +15*
Feats: Alertness, Improved Grapple B , Iron Will,
Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Standard goods, standard coins, no
items
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Huge); 17-24 HD
(Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: –
against its target. When struck, the target must make
a DC 19 Will save. If this fails, the target loses one
of its spell slots or one use of a spell-like ability,
starting first with the highest-level spells or abilities.
These lost spell slots or spell-like abilities return after
8 hours of rest. The blind lasher generally makes
an attack against any creature that damaged it with
magic, using its devour magic ability to neutralize the
threat. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Grapple Swarm (Ex): Because of their many
arms, blind lashers are excellent grapplers. They gain
a +4 bonus to all grapple checks in addition to their
bonus from the Improved Grapple feat.
Lightning Burst (Su): Any creature hit with
the lasher’s tentacle attack also suffers 1d6 points of
electricity damage. Any creature grappling with the
lasher takes 2d6 points of electricity damage each
round. This damage bursts outward in a 10-foot radius,
damaging all nearby creatures unless a DC 19 Reflex
save is made. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Blind (Ex): Blind lashers are blind (but have
the blindsight special quality). They have immunity to
gaze attacks, visual effects, illusions, and other attack
forms that rely on sight.
Blindsight (Ex): A blind lasher can ascertain
prey by vibration within 60 feet.
Magic Sense (Su): Using its finely tuned
magic-detecting senses, the blind lasher receives a
+4 bonus to any Spot checks against creatures with
supernatural, spell-like, or spellcasting abilities.
Magic Weapon Resistance (Su): When
attacked with weapons that have an enhancement
bonus, the bonus is not added to the attack or damage
rolls, as the blind lasher’s innate anti-magic abilities
turn the weapon’s magic aside.
Pressure Dependence (Ex): Blind lashers are
immune to the effects of pressure at the ocean depths.
They take 1d6 points of damage each round they are
at a depth of less than 1,000 feet.
Spell-Like Abilities: At will--detect magic.
Caster level 8th.