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

Discordant Fiddler
Large Magical Beast (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 9d10+45 (94 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), swim 10 ft. (2
squares)
Armor Class: 19 (-1 size, +10 natural), touch
9, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+20
Attack: Claw +15 melee (2dl0+7)
Full Attack: 2 claws +15 melee (2dl0+7) and
2 pincers +13 melee (ld8+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft. /15 ft.
Special Attack: Discordant disruption,
improved grab, repel, rip, silt storm
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light
This crablike creature is larger than a horse.
It has both a clawed and a pincered arm on either
side of its body. Another set of limbs extends from
its midsection, each limb ending in fanlike digits.
Discordant fiddlers are 9-foot long crab-like
creatures with hardened shells and multiple sets of
natural weapons. Oblong like crabs, discordant
fiddlers have a claw and pincer on either side of
their body. They also have another set of limbs
coming from their midsection whose ends spread
out like a fan. Although these fanned limbs seem
less daunting than the claw-pincer rip, discordant
fiddlers use their fans to stir the sand and obscure
their retreat. Discordant fiddlers generally lurk
among coral reefs.
Combat
Discordant fiddlers typically rush into
combat or drop from above. They prefer to snatch
up their prey and dissect it with their pincers, but
if pressed they defend themselves with their silt
storm ability.
Discordant Disruption (Ex): As a free
action, a discordant fiddler can create a piercing
sonic noise that other creatures find horridly
distracting. While using this ability, the discordant
fiddler cannot move. All creatures within 30 feet
of the fiddler must make a DC 19 Will save or
suffer a -2 penalty to all attack rolls, ability checks,
skill checks, and saving throws. Spellcasters must
make a DC 19 Concentration check to cast under
such conditions. The save and check DCs are
Constitution-based.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability,
a discordant fiddler must hit an opponent with
its claw attack. It can then attempt to start a
grapple as a free action without provoking attacks
of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it
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vision, resistance to cold 5, scramble
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 10, Con 20, Int l, Wis
8, Cha 8
Skills: Hide +4, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +15
Feats: Alertness, Improved Bull Rush,
Multiattack, Power Attack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or group (2-8)
Challenge Rating: 5
Alignment: Always neutral
Treasure: None
Advancement: 10-11 HD (Large), 12-20 HD
(Huge)
Level Adjustment: —
establishes a hold and can constrict and rip with a
pincer from the same side.
Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check,
a discordant fiddler deals ld10+7 points of damage.
Repel (Ex): Discordant fiddlers can use a
fan to blow away smaller opponents. Targets must
make a DC 21 Reflex save to avoid the effect.
Those that fail are knocked back 30 feet and are
prone. The save DC is Strength-based.
Rip (Ex): A discordant fiddler’s pincer
attacks against targets held by the claw on the
beast’s same side receive a +2 bonus on the attack
roll, an increased threat range of 18-20, and deals
triple damage on a critical hit.
Silt Storm (Ex): By waving their fans about
them, discordant fiddler can raise the sand below
them into a thick, swirling cloud that obscures
them and the area around them. The silt storm fills
a 30 foot radius and obscures vision of all kinds.
Within the cloud, a creature 5 feet away from
another has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss
chance). Creatures farther away from each other
have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the
attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Scramble (Ex): Discordant fiddlers can rush
with amazing speed, but cannot turn when doing
so. They can run at quintuple normal speed in a
straight line.
Skills: A discrodant fiddler’s natural
coloration and the sea life that sometimes grows
on it grants it a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks.
A discordant fiddler 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.
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