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

4
Gharian
Large Monstrous Humanoid (Reptilian)
Hit Dice: 5d8+15 (37 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 40 ft. (8
squares)
Armor Class: 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4
natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+11
Attack: Trident +6 melee (2d6+2) or claw
+1 melee (1d6+2) or tail slap +7 melee
(1d8+2)
Full Attack: Trident +6 melee (2d6+2) and
tail slap +2 melee (1d8+2), or trident +6
melee (2d6+2) and bite +1 melee (1d8+1),
or tail slap +7 melee (1d8+2) and 2 claws +1
melee (1d6+1), or 2 claws +1 melee (1d6+2)
and bite +1 melee (1d8+1)
The massive creature has the upper torso and
arms of a humanoid, and the lower body of a large
crocodile. Its head is reptilian, with sharp teeth and
wide-spaced eyes. Its rough hide is patterned in
green and black, blending with the swamp terrain
as it moves. A row of bony plates extends from the
creature’s head to its tail, which itself ends in a
vicious bladed point.
Combat
Powerful and brutish, a gharian knows little
of things like tactics. It has a degree of cunning,
though, leaping on unsuspecting prey from ambush
in dank pools and swampwater. Otherwise, it
simply strikes hard and fast. If a gharian suffers
a significant amount of damage early in a fight, it
flees to safety. Otherwise, blood lust overwhelms
it, and the gharian battles to the death.
Blood Lust (Ex): Gharians have an
unhealthy love of violence. When a gharian
scores a critical hit on an opponent, or when 3
full rounds of combat have passed (whichever
comes first), it succumbs to a berserk frenzy at the
start of its next turn. To avoid entering a frenzy in
response to a provoking effect, the gharian must
make a successful Will save (DC 10 + number of
successive rounds of combat + number of critical
hits it has scored) or begin its frenzy at the start of
72
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Blood lust
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., hold
breath, regeneration 2
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +3
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 4, Wis
9, Cha 3
Skills: Hide +1*, Jump +6, Listen +2, Spot
+2, Swim +12
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Focus (tail slap)
Environment: Temperate and warm marsh
Organization: Solitary, pair, or swarm (3-7)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Often chaotic evil
Advancement: 6-10 HD (Large); 11-15 HD
(Huge)
Level Adjustment: +4
its next turn. If the save is successful, the gharian
must make a new save at the start of its turn every
round until it fails or combat ends.
While berserk, a gharian gains +4 to Strength,
+4 to Constitution, a +2 morale bonus on Will
saves and –2 to Armor Class. A frenzy lasts for a
number of rounds equal to 3 + the gharian’s (newly
adjusted) Con modifier. A gharian cannot end its
blood lust voluntarily. After a frenzy, a gharian is
fatigued for the remainder of the encounter.
Hold Breath (Ex): A gharian can hold its
breath for a number of rounds equal to four times
its Constitution score before it risks drowning (see
page 33).
Regeneration (Ex): Electricity deals normal
damage to a gharian. If a gharian loses a limb or
body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes.
A gharian can reattach the severed member
instantly by holding it to the stump.
Skills: A gharian 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.
*Due to their dappled hides, gharians gain
a +8 circumstance bonus to Hide checks when in
water.