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

2
Barrow Roach
Large Undead
Hit Dice: 3d12 (19 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 30 ft. (6
squares), swim 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +6
natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+10
Attack: Claw +5 melee (1d4+5 plus
disease)
Full Attack: 2 claws +5 melee (1d4+5 plus
disease) and bite +0 melee (1d6+2 plus
disease)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Disease, frightful presence
Special Qualities: Blindsense 30 ft.,
collective mind, undead traits
The creature appears to be a massive roach,
one roughly the size of a horse.
Combat
Barrow roaches are fearless to the point of
recklessness, and they grow more effective when
more of their numbers congregate.
Disease (Ex): Festering ague—claw or bite,
Fortitude DC 11, incubation period 1d4 days,
damage 1d3 Str and 1d3 Con. Any day in which
a victim takes 3 points of Constitution damage,
the afflicted creature must immediately succeed
on an another DC 13 Fortitude save or 1 point of
Constitution damage becomes Constitution drain
instead. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Frightful Presence (Ex): A barrow roach
can unsettle its foes with its mere presence. This
ability takes effect automatically whenever the
barrow roach performs some sort of dramatic
action (such as charging or attacking). Creatures
within 30 feet and with less than 3 HD must
succeed on a DC 9 Will save or become shaken for
2d6 rounds and those with 3 or more HD become
shaken for 1d4 rounds. Creatures that successfully
save are immune to the frightful presence of the
same barrow roach for 24 hours. The save DC is
Charisma-based.
For each additional barrow roach that the
victim can see beyond the first, the save DC
increases by +2. If any creature fails the Will save
by 5 or more, it is frightened rather than shaken.
22
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +5
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 17, Con —, Int —,
Wis 15, Cha 6
Skills: Climb +13, Hide +7, Jump +9, Move
Silently +5, Swim +13
Feats: Run B
Environment: Warm forest or marsh
Organization: Cluster (2-4), colony (5-40),
or hive (50-100)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: 50% coins; 50% goods;
50%items
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 4-9 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
Collective Mind (Su): For every 3 barrow
roaches congregated within 100 feet of each other
(even if separated by stone, earth, water, or other
nonmagical barriers), each gains an effective
Intelligence bonus of +2 for the purpose of its
relative capacity to make tactical decisions (to a
maximum effective Intelligence of 10). Thus, if
15 or more barrow roaches are present, they can
react as logically and effectively to changes in
local conditions, environment, and other stimuli
as an average human might. Further, if 5 or more
Barrow roaches are within 100 feet of each other,
each gains the benefit of the Combat Expertise
feat; if 10 or more are present, they also gain the
benefit of the Improved Trip feat.
This ability does not allow the barrow
roaches to actually communicate information in
any way.
Skills: A barrow roach has a + 2 racial bonus
on Move Silently checks and a +8 racial bonus
on Climb and Hide checks. A barrow roach can
always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if
rushed or threatened.
A barrow roach 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.