Monster Manual

ASSASSINVINEArrowhawk illus. by T. Lockwood20An elder arrowhawk (41to 75 years old) is about 20feet long with a wingspanof 30 feet and a weightof about 800 pounds.Arrowhawks speakAuran, but they arenot usually talkativecreatures.COMBATArrowhawks are extremelyterritorial and always hungry.They attack almost any other creaturethey meet, seeking a meal ortrying to drive away a rival. The primarymode of attack is an electricityray, fired from the tail. The creaturealso bites, but it prefers to stay outof reach.Electricity Ray (Su): Anarrowhawk can fire thisray once per round,with a range of50 feet.ASSASSIN VINELarge PlantHit Dice: 4d8+12 (30 hp)Initiative: +0Speed: 5 ft. (1 square)Armor Class: 15 (–1 size, +6 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 15Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+12Attack: Slam +7 melee (1d6+7)Full Attack: Slam +7 melee (1d6+7)Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft. (20 ft. withvine)Special Attacks: Constrict 1d6+7,entangle, improved grabSpecial Qualities: Blindsight 30 ft.,camouflage, immunity to electricity,low-light vision, plant traits, resistanceto cold 10 and fire 10Saves: Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +2Abilities: Str 20, Dex 10, Con 16,Int —, Wis 13, Cha 9Environment: TemperateforestsOrganization: Solitary orpatch (2–4)Challenge Rating: 3Treasure: 1/10th coins; 50%goods; 50% itemsAlignment: Always neutralAdvancement: 5–16 HD (Huge);17–32 HD (Gargantuan); 33+ HD(Colossal)Level Adjustment: —This vine has a fibrous stem covered withbrown, stringy bark and as thick as a human’sforearm. Its leaves are shaped like human hands.ArrowhawkThe assassin vine is a semimobile plant that collects its owngrisly fertilizer by grabbing and crushing animals and depositingthe carcasses near its roots.A mature plant consists of a main vine, about 20 feet long.Smaller vines up to 5 feet long branch off from the main vineabout every 6 inches. These small vines bear clusters ofleaves, and in late summer they produce bunches ofsmall fruits that resemble wild grapes. Thefruit is tough and has a hearty but bitterflavor. Assassin vine berries make aheady wine.An assassin vine can move about, albeitvery slowly, but usually stays put unless itneeds to seek prey in a new vicinity.A subterranean version of theassassin vine grows near hot springs,volcanic vents, and other sourcesof thermal energy.Theseplants havethin, wiry stemsand gray leaves shotthrough with silver, brown, andwhite veins so that they resemblemineral deposits. An assassin vinegrowing underground usuallygenerates enough offal tosupport a thriving colony ofmushrooms and other fungi,which spring up around the plantand help conceal it.COMBATAn assassin vine uses simple tactics:It lies still until prey comes within reach, then attacks. It usesits entangle ability both to catch prey and to deter counterattacks.Constrict (Ex): An assassin vine deals 1d6+7 points of damagewith a successful grapple check.Entangle (Su): An assassin vinecan animate plants within 30 feet ofitself as a free action (Ref DC 13 partial).The effect lasts until the vinedies or decides to end it (also afree action). The save DC isWisdom-based. The ability isotherwise similar to entangle(caster level 4th).Improved Grab (Ex): Touse this ability, an assassinvine must hit with its slam attack.It can then attempt to starta grapple as a free action withoutprovoking an attack of opportunity.If it wins the grapplecheck, it establishes a holdand can constrict.Blindsight (Ex): Assassinvines have no visual organsbut can ascertain all foes within30 feet using sound, scent, andvibration.Camouflage (Ex): Since an assassinvine looks like a normal plantwhen at rest, it takes a DC 20 Spotcheck to notice it before it attacks.Anyone with ranks in Survival orKnowledge (nature) can use one ofAssassin vinethose skills instead of Spot to noticethe plant. Dwarves can use stonecunning tonotice the subterranean version.