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

Kelp Stalker
Medium Plant (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 5d8+15 (37 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: Swim 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+1 Dex, +8 natural), touch
11, flat footed 18
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+7
Attack: Slam +8 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: 2 slams +8 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Devour
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/
slashing, darkvision 90 ft., kelp traits, low-light
This vaguely humanoid-shaped mass of
vegetation looks like a writhing body of leaves,
stalk, and shadow constantly shifting and flowing
with the current.
The kelp stalker is found near the coast where
kelp forests are common; it is thought by many to
be some sort of aquatic cousin to the shambling
mound. At its heart, kelp stalkers are woven together
by mellorus kelp, given life through unexplained
abilities inherant to mellorus kelp.
Kelp stalkers are carnivorous by nature,
replacing the minerals they would normally pull
from the soil with the blood of their victims. They
are a common threat in the kelp farms of the
aquatic races, especially given their ability to blend
into vegetation. In regions where kelp farming is
common, guards are posted specifically to watch for
stalkers entering settled areas.
Combat
Kelp stalkers prefer to attack en masse, beating
their victims into submission before devouring them.
The creatures rarely use any concerted tactics, closing
instead for melee combat as quickly as possible and
then fighting to the death. Those encountered within
kelp forests make use of their natural camouflage to
surprise their victims, dragging them off one by one
into the maze of kelp to consume them. Stalkers are
afraid of fire and usually flee from it (although that’s
rarely a concern underwater).
Devour (Ex): Once a target is rendered
unconscious and there are no other threats present,
a kelp stalker takes its victim to the nearest kelp
bed. The stalker then lays down roots in the body,
sucking out all the innards of the creature over the
next few days. During this time the stalker cannot
move from that spot, but otherwise acts normally.
If the target is alive when the process begins, the
victim must make a DC 15 Fortitude save each day
or take 1d6 points of Constitution drain. One day
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vision, plant traits, water dependent
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 5, Wis
12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +9*, Move Silently +9, Swim +12
Feats: Lightning Reflexes, Weapon Focus
(slam)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Pack (3-8)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 6-10 HD (Medium), 11 -15
HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: –
of feeding heals a wounded kelp stalker of 2d8 hit
points. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Kelp Traits (Ex): The type of kelp used in
stalker creation directly affects the abilities of that
creature; it is possible to predict these abilities with
a successful DC 20 Knowledge (nature) check. For
those made from something other than standard kelp,
choose one of the following types for each group of
kelp stalkers. Creatures formed from different base
types do not congregate together.
— Sourdin seagrass: The kelp stalker gains an
additional +4 racial bonus to Hide checks.
— Kraken bane. The kelp stalker gains a +10
damage bonus against kraken, squid and aboleths.
— Whalektop help: The kelp stalkers damage
reduction improves to 10/slashing and its natural
armor bonus improves to +10. Increase the kelp
stalker’s CR by +1.
— Blessed kelp. The kelp stalker’s slam attacks
are treated as silver weapons for purposes of
overcoming damage reduction.
Water Dependent (Ex): Kelp stalkers cannot
survive out of water, losing all muscle control and
structure if they try to depart their natural medium.
If somehow forced out into the air, the stalker
collapses into an inert pile and is unable to move as
long as it remains in a gaseous atmosphere. It also
takes one point of Constitution damage per round
until it returns to the water.
Skills: Kelp stalkers have a +4 racial bonus on
Hide and Move Silently checks. *In areas containing
kelp, a kelp stalker’s racial bonus on Hide checks
improves to +8, and it can hide even when being
observed by others.
A kelp stalker has a +8 racial bonus on any
Swim checks 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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