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

Lau
Gargantuan Aberration
Hit Dice: 15d8+105 (172 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (-4 size, + 1 Dex, +12
natural), touch 7, flat-footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +11/+33
Attack: Tentacle +17 melee (1d8+10)
Full Attack: 6 tentacles +17 melee
(1d8+10) and bite + 12 melee (4d6+5) +
poison
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, paralyzing
gaze, poison, spines, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +11
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 12, Con 24, Int 15,
Wis 15, Cha 17
From a distance, the lau simply appears
to be a gigantic hooded snake, between 40 and
100 feet in length, with alternating brown and
yellow stripes. On closer inspection, however, its
appearance becomes even more striking. Its scales
are intermixed with tufts of wiry needle-like hairs,
the “hood” is actually a writhing mass of grasping
tentacles, and its eyes flash with a malevolent
yellow light. It is said that the rumbling hiss of
the lau can be mistaken for a herd of grazing
elephants.
Despite being extremely intelligent, lau
cannot speak, though they can understand both
Common and Draconic.
Combat
The lau attacks by lashing out at foes with
its tentacles, and biting with its huge fangs. It
immediately attempts to swallow any creature
struck by one or more of its tentacles.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability,
a lau must hit a Large or smaller opponent with
a tentacle 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 attempt to swallow its
foe whole in the following round.
Paralyzing Gaze (Su): Paralysis for 2d4
rounds, 30 feet, Fortitude DC 20 negates. The save
DC is Charisma-based.
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Skills: Bluff +13, Diplomacy +5, Disguise
+3 (+5 acting), Hide +9, Intimidate +17,
Jump +18, Listen +14, Move Silently +10,
Search +15, Spot +14, Survival +2 (+4
following tracks), Swim +16
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative,
Lightning Reflexes, Persuasive, Power
Attack, Stealthy
Environment: Warm swamp
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 16
Treasure: 10% coins, 50% goods, 50%
magic
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 16-30 HD (Gargantuan),
31-45 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 24, initial
and secondary damage 1d4 Dex. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Spines (Ex): Anyone attacking a lau in melee
combat must succeed on a DC 18 Reflex save or
suffer 1d4 points of damage from contact with
the creature’s spines, as well as being poisoned
by the spines. Weapons with reach can attack the
creature from a distance and do not subject the
wielder to damage from the spines. The save DC
is Dexterity-based.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A lau can try to
swallow a grabbed opponent of Large or smaller
size by making a successful grapple check.
The swallowed creature takes 2d8+10 points of
crushing damage plus 1d10 points of acid damage
per round from the lau’s gizzard. A swallowed
creature can climb out of the stomach with a
successful grapple check. This returns it to the lau’s
mouth, where another successful grapple check is
needed to get free. A swallowed creature can also
cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing
weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the lau’s gut
(AC 16). Once the creature exits, muscular action
closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must
cut its own way out.
A lau’s stomach can hold up to 1 Huge, 2
Large, 4 Medium, 8 Small, or 16 Tiny creatures.
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