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

Giant Bog Turtle
Huge Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 15d10+78 (160 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), swim 40 ft. (8
squares)
Armor Class: 26 (-2 size, +18 natural), touch
8, flat-footed 26
Base Attack/Grapple: +15/+35
Attack: Bite+26 melee (3d8+18)
Full Attack: Bite+26 melee (3d8+18)
Space/Reach: 15 ft/10 ft.
Special Attacks: Capsize, current, improved
grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light
vision, scent
This giant turtle has a brownish green
carapace mottled with black splotches. Its head,
neck, and limbs are dark green and leathery. Its
eyes are pale yellow.
Giant bog turtles are aggressive omnivores
that make their lairs deep in desolate swamps, bogs,
and marshlands. Their diet consists mainly of large
insects, vermin, plants, berries, and aquatic varieties
of the aforementioned things. Some, prefer a diet of
meat to plants, and feed mainly on marsh animals
such as alligators, crocodiles, and the occasional
adventurer. Bog turtles are diurnal creatures and
spend the nighttime hours sleeping in their lairs.
Giant bog turtles are solitary creatures;
rarely is more than one ever encountered. Mating
season is the only exception and it is short (one
month during the spring). The female lays a clutch
consisting of 1d3 +3 eggs. The eggs are buried in
swamp mud and hidden from predators. The female
stays near the eggs at all times except when eating
or hunting. Gestation lasts about 3 months before
the eggs hatch. Newborn bog turtles grow rapidly
and are self-sufficient within one year. Young reach
maturity around four years of age.
A giant bog turtle is about 20 feet long, but
can reach lengths of 50 feet.
Combat
A giant bog turtle lies silently, drawn into its
shell waiting for prey to pass near. At a distance
greater than 30 feet, its shell resembles a large
mound of earth or foliage and is often mistaken for
such. Once prey moves within range, the giant bog
turtle snaps its head out and attempts to swallow a
foe. In deep water, it opens its mouth and draws in
water, plants, rocks, and swimmers.
Capsize (Ex): A submerged giant bog turtle
that surfaces under a boat or ship less than 20 feet
179
12
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +6
Abilities: Str 34, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 2, Wis
12, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +9, Spot +9, Swim +24
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Improved Natural
Attack (bite), Power Attack, Toughness,
Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Temperate or warm marshes
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 12
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 16-30 HD (Huge); 31-45 HD
(Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
long capsizes the vessel 95% of the time. It has a
50% chance to capsize a vessel from 20 to 60 feet
long, and a 20% chance to capsize one over 60 feet
long.
Current (Ex): As a full round action, a giant
bog turtle can induce a strong rush of water that
lasts for 5 rounds and pulls all creatures and objects
within a 100-foot cone toward its mouth at the rate
of 20 feet per round. Creatures can attempt a DC
29 Swim check to resist. A swimming creature
cannot take 10 on its Swim check. The check DC is
Strength-based.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a
giant bog turtle must hit an opponent with its bite
attack. 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 swallow the foe in die next round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A giant bog turtle can
try to swallow a grabbed opponent of a smaller size
than itself by making a successful grapple check.
Once inside, die opponent takes 3d8+18 points of
crushing damage and 8 points of acid damage from
the turtle’s digestive juices. A swallowed creature
can cut its way out using claws or a light slashing
or piercing weapon to deal 25 points of damage to
the turtle’s interior (AC 17). Once the creature exits,
muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed
opponent must cut its own way out.
A Huge bog turtle’s interior can hold 2
Medium, 8 Small, 32 Tiny, 128 Diminutive, or 512
Fine opponents.
Skills: A giant bog turtle 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.